HC holds that Police has not only failed to implement COVID preventive measures, but has itself violated them [Read Order]

The Allahabad High Court has regretted that not only the Police authorities had failed to implement the norms to social distancing and wearing mask to prevent Corona virus in the State but it has been found that even police personnel outside their police stations are not wearing masks and not following the protocol of social distancing.

“In our country, to begin with, we very successfully locked down the country for good three months. While the lockdown was imposed, we found that police was really effective. Today, when social distancing and wearing of masks has to be done in letter and spirit we find that strict enforcement is missing. Quite often, it has been found that even police personnel outside their police stations are not wearing masks.”

The above observation has made by the Division Bench comprised of Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Ajit Kumar while dealing with the bunch of petitions dealing with the issues regarding Covid-19.

The number of suggestions were presented before the court to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by the appearing advocates. The Suggestions are listed below:

• All police personnel and all Government employees should compulsorily wear masks. They submitted that unless they themselves wear masks they cannot ask others to do so
• .It was suggested that the head of every institution in the State of U.P. should in the morning hours everyday try to sensitize as many people as possible in their departments for wearing of masks and for maintaining of social distancing.
•  Every citizen should be given the liberty to ring up at the toll free numbers to inform persons responsible if they see anyone not wearing masks or not maintaining social distancing.
•  It has further been suggested that police in every district should take rounds without any interval on foot, mount, motorcycles, Jeeps or by any other mode and they should, thus, keep a round the clock vigil just as they used to do when the lockdown was imposed.
• The counsel present also suggested that the Government be advised to stop people from eating on roadside eateries, restaurants, chat-thelas and laithelas.
• The counsel present suggested that no one should be allowed to have pan and tea from the open kiosk.
• It was vehemently suggested that people may be allowed to get their food packed and they take those packets to their homes and have them there but they cannot, without their masks, be allowed to have food, pan or tea in the open.
• It was suggested that consumption of alcohol, just like hookas, be prohibited outside the Model Wine Shops.

The matter has listed on 1.10.20 for the next hearing.

Case Details:

Case :- PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 574 of 2020

Petitioner :- In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres And For Providing Better Treatment To Corona Positive

Respondent: - State of U.P.

Counsel for Petitioner :- Gaurav Kumar Gaur, Aditya Singh Parihar, Amitanshu Gour, Jitendra Kumar, Katyayini, Rahul Sahai, Rishu Mishra, S.P.S. Chauhan, Satyaveer Singh, Shailendra Garg, Sunita Sharma, Swetashwa Agarwal, Uttar Kumar Goswami

Counsel for Respondent: - C.S.C., Dhiraj Singh, Hari Nath Tripathi, Purnendu Kumar Singh, Satyavrat Sahai, Sunil Dutt Kautilya

Quorum: Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice

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