Amid the sudden wave of Covid-19 cases in Delhi, which has called for the Center’s intervention and the reinstatement of a number of restrictions, Durga Jan Seva Trust moved the high court in defiance of the Delhi government’s order prohibiting any gathering at Chhath Puja on November 20. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority issued an order on November 10 banning any gathering on the occasion of Chhath Puja, after cases in the capital began to gallop from October last week.
A court of Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad judges dismissed the petition and expressed surprise that such a petition can be filed at this time. The bank also said it would not interfere with the AAP government’s decision to ban Chhath Puja celebrations in public places such as ponds and riverbanks.
“Oh really! Today, when the Delhi government does not allow marriages with more than 50 people, it only wants 1,000 people. How?” said the bank, as it annulled the petition as “without merit.”
The high court said the third wave of the infection was already underway in the national capital and allowing a large gathering would result in people becoming “super spreaders.” “Today, such a request is denied by the reality of the terrain,” the court said, adding that the petitioner should have taken into consideration the current circumstances in the city. The higher court said it appeared that the petitioner was unaware of the Covid-19 situation.
“The infection rate ranges between 7,800 and 8,593 … the mortality rate is in the double digits. There are 42,000 active cases, ”he noted.
(With PTI inputs)
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