Gujarat High Division Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ashutosh J. Shastri took Suo Motu Notice of Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Delhi leading to several COVID-19 infections, on Friday and directed  the Central Government to deal with the violators of  Tourist Visa Laws with a 'firm hand'.

Central government submitted a Report that 960 foreigners had  attended the Jamaat congregation on the strength of their Tourist Visas were in violation of the provisions of the Visa Manual 2019 as also amenable to action under Sections 13 and 14 of The Foreigners Act, 1946.

While taking strong exception to this Suo Motu Matter, the Bench comprising of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ashutosh J. Shastri observed in their Judgement- 

'…with regard to the violation of the Visa Manual, 2019 and The Foreigners Act, 1946, Union of India woke up although late but then now it is in full gear and concerted effort is being made to identify such violators, find their location and track them down. We may only add that the Central Government may strictly ensure the compliance of the provisions of the Visa Manual, 2019 and The Foreigners Act, 1946 relating to entry of foreign nationals based on their respective visas and anyone found violating the same should be dealt with a firm hand.' 

High Court had in this Suo Motu Petition directed the Central and the state governments, asking them to file reports on the steps taken by them for identification and isolation of people who had who attended the congregation and had subsequently entered Gujarat.

State government submitted a report relating to identification and care and protection of the participants of Tablighi Jamaat who had travelled to Gujarat.

Expressing satisfaction on the same, the Bench said,

'We hope and trust that both the Central Government as also the State Government would continue with their endeavor in the same letter and spirit to deal in the present critical condition created by the Pandemic COVID-19 (Corona Virus) and the Tablighi Jamaat because of which, the entire nation is in a state of lock down for 21 days beginning 25th March, 2020 till 14th April, 2020.'

Recording its satisfaction on the issues, the High Court asked people to refrain from filing multiple litigations raising similar claims for which both the Central Government and the State Governments are already conscious and are taking appropriate decisions to meet with the crisis.

Bench observed-

....Both the Central Government and the State Governments are already conscious and are taking appropriate decisions to meet with the crisis starting from the industrialists, banking sector, insurance, the upper class, the middle class, the lower class and the underprivileged, including daily wage labourers working in the government and private sectors as also the migratory labourers.

Next date of hearing in the matter is  April 17.

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