Supreme Court | Photo credit: BCCL
New Delhi: On Thursday, the Supreme Court suspended the Gujarat High Court order, which ordered the state government to send people caught without masks to community service in COVID-19 care centers.
While upholding the HC order, the high court called on the Gujarat government to ensure that the central government’s COVID-19 guidelines on mask use and social distancing amid the pandemic are strictly adhered to.
On Wednesday, the High Court had ordered the Gujarat government to issue a notice so that people caught without masks in public places in the state can be sent to COVID-19 care centers for community service five to 15 days apart. to be fined 1,000 rupees.
The court had approved the order while expressing concern and dissatisfaction over the violation of COVID-19 guidelines in the state.
In issuing the order, the High Court also expressed “shock” over a family function organized by BJP MLA Kanti Gamit. A video of the function had gone viral in which thousands of attendees allegedly circumvented all COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
Some reports said that more than 6,000 people attended the engagement ceremony of the grandson of the BJP leader.
The court was strict on the matter and asked the BJP government what it was doing about it.
“This is shocking and regrettable. What were the police doing when there was such a large gathering? We are not entirely satisfied with the way the government has handled the situation. Incidents like this make all their efforts so far useless sense “, observed the HC. .
The order was approved by the HC court of Chief Justice Vikramnath and Judge JB Pardiwala, who had learned suo motu of the prevailing coronavirus situation and confinement in the state.
Yesterday, the court ordered that people who find themselves without masks in public will be asked to perform community services in COVID-19 care centers for 5 to 15 days, and at least 4 to 6 hours a day.
In addition, such service would be non-medical in nature, such as cleaning, cleaning, help with cooking and serving food, data preparation, etc.
