Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the state government order that reduced the cost of Covid tests. HC action comes on pleas filed by private laboratories in the state.

The court noted that the labs can charge the earlier rates for the tests.

The state government had reduced that rate of RT-PCR test from Rs 2500 to Rs 1500 and the rate of antigen test from Rs 625 to Rs 300. Following this, the private labs challenged this order in the High Court.

The plea had stated that the right to reduce the costs vests with ICMR and the state government can’t intervene in it. The decision was taken without discussing with us, they further stated.

The court approved these claims and issued a stay on the government order.