Will not prosecute Tejasvi Surya, other political leaders for not wearing face masks at political rally: State Govt to Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court, on Thursday, took strong exception to the Karnataka government's decision to not prosecute Member of Parliament and advocate, Tejasvi Surya and other political leaders under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act for not wearing face masks while attending political rallies..A Bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty said that the State government was attempting to protect politicians and were not taking any adverse action against those violating social distancing norms. ."Intention of the State appears to be to protect a particular class (politicians).....How can you protect somebody liked this?" the court asked..The State, in its affidavit, had said that "it is the uniform policy of the state that it does not intend to prosecute mask/social distancing violators with harsh punishment and it is deemed sufficient that the fine of Rs 250/100 would suffice for such offences.".Fine of Rs 250 imposed and recovered from Tejasvi Surya for not wearing face mask: State tells Karnataka HC.Expressing dissatisfaction at the stand of the State, the court said that it would issue notice to all recognized political parties and get an assurance from them to refrain from conducting rallies violating social distancing norms, if the"State had no control over them". .Have you collected fines from MP Tejasvi Surya for not wearing mask: Karnataka HC asks State Govt .Towards that end, the court directed petitioner to implead all political parties in the matter. .The Court was hearing a plea alleging that the National Directives for COVID-19 Management, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines, were not being followed in Karnataka.."Once a cognizable offence is made out, can State take a stand that it is not the policy of the State to prosecute? There are large scale violations and you are not doing anything," the court asked on Thursday..Government Advocate Vikram Huilgol said that the organizers of such political rallies would be charged with a hefty fine which may amount up to Rs 50,000..Do you want to prosecute persons who participated in political rallies without wearing masks? Karnataka HC to State Govt."Let us test the bonafide of the State. There are has been 3-4 political rallies where people were not wearing masks. How many organizers of such rallies have been charged with fines?" the court shot back..The State further apprised the Court that about 680 persons who attended a political rally on September 30 were fined for not wearing masks. .The Court orally observed that, ."We will implead all political parties, to be made as respondents and take undertaking from them to ensure strict implementation of regulations regarding wearing of face masks and maintaining of social distancing during rallies.".The matter was adjourned for further hearing on November 24.

Will not prosecute Tejasvi Surya, other political leaders for not wearing face masks at political rally: State Govt to Karnataka HC

Rintu Mariam Biju

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