News Analysis India

Tag: covid protocol

  • Obligation to ensure Covid protocol compliance more on those charged with enforcement: Delhi HC 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Coronavirus protocols must be adhered to even “more strictly” by those charged with their enforcement and they must lead by example, the Delhi High Court has said.

    The court said it is imperative that all individuals including those in charge of maintenance of law and order follow these protocols at all times.

    The court made the observations while hearing a plea by an advocate seeking direction to take necessary action against on-duty Delhi police officials for allegedly violating Covid guidelines, and for not ensuring the implementation of safety norms in society despite many orders passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

    The petitioner has said that in the early hours of August 9, 2021, two police personnel posted at Sadar Bazar Police Station were without masks and helmets during patrolling on a government bike and they allegedly misbehaved with him and his relatives and used derogatory words.

    The court was informed by the Delhi Police counsel that on taking cognisance of the complaint, it was duly enquired into and subsequently two police personnel were also cautioned.

    “The obligation to ensure compliance with those protocols must be adhered to even more strictly by those who are charged with its enforcement and must therefore lead by example,” Justice Yashwant Varma said.

    “Insofar as the incident which led to the institution of the present writ petition is concerned, the court notes that the two police personnel have been duly admonished and that consequently circumstances warrant a closure being accorded,” he said.

    The police counsel also said that the authorities remain duty-bound to ensure that all citizens including members of the police force adhere to the protocols mandated by DDMA as well MHA circulars.

    Regarding the allegation of unauthorised hawking in the Sadar Bazar area raised in the plea by petitioner and advocate Shalen Bhardwaj, the court noted that the appropriate statutory authorities who are obliged to ensure the implementation of the Street Vendors Act (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 have not been arrayed as party respondents.

    The court left it open to the petitioner to initiate appropriate proceedings as may be permissible in law.

    The petitioner has claimed, “The said police personnel not only violated the provisions of CrPC but also defamed the petitioner in the eyes of his relatives and residents. Further by misusing the police power and section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), he extended threat to the petitioner to falsely implicate him in false cases. His said act does not come under the discharge of his official police duty.”

  • It’s confirmed, Priyanka’s close aide Imran Masood joining SP

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: In a major jolt to the Congress party ahead of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Imran Masood, an influential leader and party face in western UP, has formally announced his plans to switch over to the Samajwadi Party (SP) along with his supporters on Monday. 

    Masood claimed that his decision was driven by the fact that in battleground UP, the fight was straight between the ruling BJP and the SP.

    Notably, Masood had been convincing the Congress leadership to fight the 2022 UP Assembly polls in alliance with the SP. In September last year, he had openly praised Akhilesh Yadav-led SP as the only party capable of giving BJP the fight.

    On Monday, All India Congress general secretary Masood held a meeting with his supporters at his residence in Saharanpur and vowed to win all the seven seats of Saharanpur Parliamentary segment for the SP to “keep the democracy alive and remove the present fascist government.”

    Meanwhile, immediately after the meeting, Saharanpur police lodged an FIR at Qutubsher police station naming Masood and 10 of his supporters along with 300 unidentified persons for violation of Model Code of Conduct and COVID protocol. 

    “Imran Masood had held a meeting drawing a huge assemblage of his supporters at his Ambala Road residence. He had not secured permission to organize the meeting as the model code of conduct is in force. Moreover, those present in the meeting did not follow the COVID guidelines. No one was wearing the mask nor were they following the social distancing norms. So a case has been registered against Masood, 10 of his named supporters and 300 unidentified people present on the spot under relevant sections of IPC and Epidemic Act,” said a senior police official.

    The case has been registered under Sections 188 171-H, 269 and 270 of IPC along with Sections 3 and 4 of Epidemic Act. Those named in the FIR include Imran Masood, Masood Akhtar, Shadan Masood, Chaudhury Irshad, Umesh Tyagi, Gulfam Ansari, Ompal Singh, Vivek Kant, Sukhvinder Sharma, Jabar Singh and 300 unidentified persons.

    Imran Masood became an independent MLA from Muzaffarabad assembly seat in 2007. He defeated Jagdish Singh Rana of SP. He has also won the election of Saharanpur Municipality Chairman. In 2012, he contested the assembly elections from Nakur in Saharanpur but lost to Dharam Singh Saini who had contested on BSP ticket. In 2017 Masood tried his fate again from Nakur assembly segment but lost to Dharam Singh Saini who was contesting on a BJP ticket.

    Masood had courted controversy at the time of 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he threatened to kill Narendra Modi who was the BJP PM face. Masood was arrested for the comments. With adverse publicity from the controversy, Masood lost from Saharanpur in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

    This will be the return of the western UP leader to SP fold after seven years. He had joined the SP in 2013, only to return to the Congress the following year. However, the exodus in Congress continues as many senior leaders including Jitin Prasada and Satyadev Tripathi switched over to BJP recently. Also, Congress Raebareli (Sadar) MLA Aditi Singh and party Harchandpur MLA Rakesh Singh had recently switched over to the BJP.

    Previously, another close aide of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Harendra Malik along with his son and party’s state vice-president and former MLA Pankaj Malik quit Congress to join the SP.

  • Monsoon Session: Uttarakhand Assembly members to be seated maintaining social distancing

    By ANI

    DEHRADUN: During the Monsoon session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly that is scheduled to begin from Monday, members would be seated in two groups to maintain social distancing, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to officials.

    After reviewing the seating plan, the state government said that arrangements for seating of 40 members have been done in the main pavilion of the House and the remaining 31 legislators of the 71 member house will be seated in room number 107.

    However, irrespective of where they sit, the members will be considered a part of the state Assembly despite their presence in different rooms.

    According to Assembly Secretary, the decision of splitting the Assembly into two groups has been taken as the main hall of the House lacks space to maintain social distancing protocol put in place due to the ongoing pandemic. 

  • FIR registered for flouting Covid norms at Navjot Sidhu’s installation ceremony as Punjab Congress chief

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh Police has registered an FIR against unidentified persons for allegedly violating COVID-19 guidelines during the installation ceremony of Navjot Singh Sidhu as Punjab Congress chief.

    A case under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act has been registered, police said on Saturday.

    The case was lodged against unidentified persons who came from different districts of Punjab and assembled at Punjab Congress Bhawan here, they said.

    They did not maintain social distancing norms and also did not wear masks, police added.

    The case was registered at Sector 11police station, they said.

    Scores of Congress supporters had assembled at Punjab Congress Bhawan on Friday for the installation ceremony of Sidhu as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president.

  • Festivities confined to homes as India witnesses subdued Eid celebrations amid pandemic curbs 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated across the country with limited number of people offering prayers at mosques amid gathering curbs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted people on the occasion.

    Modi tweeted, “Eid Mubarak! Best wishes on Eid-ul-Adha. May this day further the spirit of collective empathy, harmony and inclusivity in the service of greater good.”

    The Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers also exchanged sweets at various points along the border, the first time since Pakistani side shunned the custom in 2019 after the Centre abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

    A BSF spokesperson said the “exchange of sweets took place between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers on the occasion of Eid at JCP (joint check post) Attari” in Punjab’s Amritsar district.

    A similar exchange of sweets took place between the two forces along the border in Rajasthan and Jammu.

    Sweets were also exchanged between the BSF and their Bangladesh counterpart BGB at multiple locations along the 4,096-km-long border.

    In Uttar Pradesh, the usual buzz was missing as people preferred to celebrate the festival in the confines of their homes.

    Led by Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, around 50 people offered “namaz” with masks on while maintaining social distancing at the historic Eidgah in Lucknow.

    They prayed for the eradication of coronavirus and development of the country, a statement issued by the Islamic Centre of India said.

    The centre had issued an advisory for celebrating the festival in accordance with the government guidelines, which had said that not more than 50 people should gather at any place at a given time.

    In Tamil Nadu, the devout offered prayers at mosques in conformity with COVID-19 protocols.

    Special prayers were held across the state in mosques and other designated places and many said they prayed for an early end to the Covid-19 pandemic and all-round prosperity.

    Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami extended greetings.

    Meanwhile, Eid was celebrated with fervour in neighbouring Puducherry, with prayers being held in mosques, including at Nellithoppu.

    Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister N Rangasamy greeted people on the occasion.

    The Muslim community in Kerala celebrated Bakrid in a subdued manner at their homes sans usual social gatherings.

    Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan greeted people on the occasion.

    Mass ‘namaz’ at mosques were absent this year also as the government continued to impose strict restrictions fearing resurgence of the pandemic after a drop in cases this month.

    As only 40 people were permitted for prayers adhering to stringent pandemic protocol, there was no usual festive mood in mosques across the southern state, which used to witness a sea of devotees since morning during the occasion.

    Devotees could be seen following social distancing norms during the prayers inside the mosques.

    PHOTO STORY | From Delhi streets to guarded borders, devotees celebrate Eid al-Adha amidst the pandemic 

    Considering their safety, the majority of mosque authorities have asked devotees to come for the Eid prayer in the morning after performing “Vulu” (cleaning) and to carry their own “Musalla” (sheet for niskaram)”.

    They also seemed to avoid the usual exchange of pleasantries and embraces after the prayers.

    The Supreme Court’s criticism of the government’s relaxations for Bakrid in areas with high COVID- 19 positivity rate further dulled the spirit for some ahead of the festival.

    Devotees mostly stayed indoors to offer ‘namaz’ in Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal greeted people on the occasion. “Hearty wishes to all the countrymen on Eid-ul-Adha. May this festival bring happiness and prosperity in your lives,” Kejriwal tweeted.

    The day lacked usual hustle bustle and festivity as major mosques such as Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid in old Delhi were closed for the visitors.

    Police personnel were also deployed outside the mosques to prevent crowding.

    “As congregational prayers are not allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions, just a few staffers and their family members offered namaz on Eid-ul-Adha today. People themselves are careful and not thronging the mosques to keep safe from the virus,” said Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid.

    A senior police officer said,”Posters were also pasted with police wishing everyone Eid Mubarak and at the same time urging them to celebrate the festival at home with their families and stay safe.”

    The celebrations in Kashmir were a low key for the third consecutive year since August 2019.

    A majority of the faithful marked the festival of sacrifice by offering prayers in small groups and observing social distancing.

    No prayers were offered at major mosques and shrines of Kashmir due to restrictions on large gatherings, officials said.

    While small gatherings for Eid prayers were witnessed at local mosques, some people preferred to offer the prayers at home.

    Thousands of sheep and goats were sacrificed by Muslims across the Valley to mark the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim, the officials said.

    Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha extended Eid greetings to people.

    “In view of evolving situation, I urge everyone to follow the Covid preventive protocols, offer Eid prayers at home and stay safe,” he added.

    Leaders of several political parties also extended Eid greetings.

  • COVID-19: J&K postpones Class XI exams, social gatherings can have no more than 100 attendees

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Concerned over the spike in coronavirus cases, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday restricted the ceiling on social gatherings to 100 people and also announced the postponement of Class 11 examination.

    The latest directive comes two days after Lt Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration deferred biannual ‘darbar move’ to Srinagar, extended closure of all schools up to and including Class 12 till April 30 along with private coaching centres.

    It also cancelled the ongoing Class 10 examination being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

    There has been a spike in coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one month. On Friday, the Union Territory recorded 1,144 new COVID-19 cases, including 180 travellers, taking the infection tally to 1,44,021, while two more coronavirus-related deaths pushed the toll to 2,048.

    On April 15, the Jammu and Kashmir administration came out with a series of COVID-control measures and announced deferment of the bi-annual darbar move, over a century-old exercise under which the government functions six months each in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.

    The civil secretariat — the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government — and other move offices including the Raj Bhavan were scheduled to close in Jammu on April 30 to May 1 and set to begin functioning in summer capital Srinagar from May 10.

    “In view of sharply rising cases of COVID in J&K, the government has taken a few important decisions ensuring safety of employees. Darbar move deferred because of COVID. Secretariat to function in both #Srinagar & #Jammu.

    Office functioning not to be affected because of e-Office,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a series of tweets on Thursday.

    The administration has also ordered the cancellation of Class 10 examination and the postponed of Class 12 papers, besides ordering testing of all incoming travellers at Lakhanpur and inter-state movers at Thandi Khui in Samba district.

    It also ordered the closure of private coaching centres till April end.

  • Not wearing masks on railway premises now punishable under Railway Act, fine up to Rs 500

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Not wearing masks on railway premises and in trains can attract a fine of up to Rs 500, with the national transporter now incorporating it as an offence under the Railway Act, according to an order issued on Saturday.

    This is the latest in a slew of measures that the railways has taken to ensure compliance of the various COVID-19 protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to restrict the spread of the virus.

    “One of the specific guideline is to wear masks in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for movement of trains as brought out by Indian Railways on May 11, 2020, says that it should be advised to all passengers that they shall be wearing face cover/ mask at entry and during travel,” order issued by the railways said.

    The mandatory use of masks and the fine will now be listed under the Indian Railways (Penalties for ctivities affecting cleanliness at Railway Premises) Rules, 2012, which also has the provision of fines for those found spitting on rail premises, it said.

    “In view of the COVID-19 situation, controlling spitting and act of similar nature due to any person not wearing mask and entering railway premises (including trains), is important to avoid creation of unclean and unhygienic conditions which may cause danger to life and public health, ” the order said.

    “Accordingly, to prevent spitting and act of similar nature and thus, to ensure wearing of face masks or face cover by all persons at railway premises (including trains), fines (up to 500) under Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at Railway Premises) Rules, 2012, shall be imposed by railway officials…,” it stated.

    The order also said that this would come into immediate effect for a period of six months till further instructions are issued in this regard.

    A record single-day rise of 2,34,692 cases and 1,341 fatalities have pushed India’s COVID-19 tally to 1,45,26,609 and the death toll due to the viral disease to 1,75,649, the health ministry said on Saturday.

    The number of active coronavirus cases in the country has surpassed the 16-lakh mark, the ministry’s data updated at 8 am showed.

    Registering a steady increase for the 38th day in a row, the tally of active COVID-19 cases has climbed to 16,79,740 in the country, accounting for 11.56 per cent of its total caseload, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 87.23 per cent.