Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Police will no longer be required to conduct a COVID-19 test before arresting any accused individuals.

The Health Department of the Gujarat Government today reversed the previous circular that mandated COVID testing prior to arrest of any individuals. In a new circular addressed to the Gujarat Police and health officials, the government announced the discontinuation of mandatory coronavirus tests for accused persons. Given the decline in the COVID-19, all prior circulars mandating coronavirus tests for accused individuals before their court appearance have been revoked.

Earlier in November, the police department had filed a revision application in the Gujarat High Court regarding this mandatory test. Now, the government has annulled the circular for mandatory coronavirus testing. During the pandemic, the Gujarat High Court had issued a directive to the Police Department, making COVID testing a prerequisite before arresting any accused individual to be brought to court or sent to jail. The police have been adhering to this directive, which they claim consumed a significant amount of time. DeshGujarat