Coronavirus: PIL filed before the Supreme Court seeking regulation of public movement during lockdown

In the absence of any rules or guidelines to regulate movement of the public amid the Coronavirus lockdown, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions for the same..A nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week. This announcement was preceded by some states imposing lockdowns and as many as 75 districts being placed under prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure..The announcement of the nationwide lockdown came with a few exemptions, with the government assuring the public that basic and essential commodities will continue to be made available. The guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry urged the public to observe social distancing while stepping out to buy medicines or groceries..Despite the same, police across various states have been resorting to lathi-charging or punishing people found on the streets, regardless of the purpose of such persons stepping out of their homes.Highlighting this issue, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions for the Centre to chalk out specific guidelines or rules to regulate the movement of the public amid this lockdown of an unprecedented magnitude. The petition states,."...due to circulation of various videos where police are seen to be beating public and also as read in several news that police are beating the public whoever is seen outside it appears apt to file the present petition seeking appropriate direction as it is felt that due to not having proper instructions and guidelines everyone including the many Polices persons who are clueless of how to proceed further in this situation.".The petition is filed by Amit Goyal, an Advocate at the Gauhati High Court. He has proposed certain directions that can be passed, including allowing grocery stores to sell vegetables, permitting one person per family to go out for purchasing essential items, disallowing people to go beyond their nearest grocery store, and home delivery of medicines, among other things..The petition is filed through Advocate Kaushik Choudhury and Advocate Pritam Baruah will also represent the petitioner. This matter may come up for hearing in the week commencing March 30, if found to be of urgent nature by the Apex Court.