Your SoP indicates that persons infected with COVID-19 will be allowed to enter places of religion, restaurants: Karnataka HC to Centre

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction with the measures taken by the Central and state governments to control the spread of the COVID-19.

. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi observed,

. "Last few weeks, more than 9,000 to 10,000 cases in the State are being reported everyday...In early days of pandemic, this Court adopted a liberal approach when the state government failed to comply with the orders of the Court. But in this case, the failure is in connection with taking measures for preventing spread of COVID-19."

. During the hearing, Chief Justice Oka observed that no prompt action was being taken against violators of social distancing norms.

. At this point, counsel for the state government submitted that stringent action was being taken by imposing fines on those persons who did not comply with the directions envisaged in the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs). The Court was further told the fine had been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 1000.

. However, in spite of increasing fines, people are moving around without masks, contended the petitioners.

. Adding to this narrative, the Court said,

"From my personal experience, as a citizen, I am saying - In Cubbon Park, even temperature is not checked. Anybody can enter now."

.No prompt action taken against violators of social distancing norms; actors and politicians should be an example for public: Karnataka HC . Turning to the counsel appearing for the Centre, the Court said,

. "Your SoP indicates that a person who is infected with COVID-19 will be entitled to enter places of religion, restaurants. You are not clarifying that." Karnataka High Court . Appearing for the petitioners in the matter, Advocate GR Mohan further pointed out that about 3,000 persons are expected to come for the Mysore Dusshera procession.

. Mohan also suggested that awareness on curbing the spread of COVID-19 has to be undertaken by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

. As the hearing drew to a close, the Court said,

. "The State must take this very seriously now, the numbers are rising. Karnataka is at serial number 2 as far as the spread of virus is concerned."

. The matter will be next heard on October 8.

. The Court passed these observations while 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.

Your SoP indicates that persons infected with COVID-19 will be allowed to enter places of religion, restaurants: Karnataka HC to Centre

Rintu Mariam Biju

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