'ICMR Confident About Availability Of Covid Vaccine In Near Future': Allahabad High Court Orders 24x7 Vigilance For Wearing Of Masks In 6 Cities

A Division Bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar has asked the Additional Advocate General to see that surveillance is done viz-a-viz wearing of masks in the districts of Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Kanpur and Gautam Budh Nagar where there is a great upsurge in the spread of the COVID-19 infection.

This has to be done on the same pattern as it is being done in Allahabad, including 24x7 surveillance in crowded areas.

The order states,

"The Court is of the view that vigilance viz-a-viz wearing of masks should continue for at least 30 more days. On the next date fixed the learned Additional Advocate General may also inform regarding the surveillance which would be done by Drones. This surveillance should be done by the available drones in crowded areas on a 24 x 7 basis.

Also the learned Additional Advocate General to see that surveillance is done viz-a-viz wearing of masks in the districts of Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Kanpur and Gautam Budh Nagar where there is a great upsurge in the spread of the COVID-19 infection."

The order was passed in the suo moto case titled "In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres And For Providing Better Treatment To Corona Positive".

Yesterday, the Bench had expressed its inclination to get in touch with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to enquire about the status of development/ administration of vaccine for Covid-19 virus. It had asked the Central Government to put it in touch with the authority so as to verify the allegations of administration of Covid vaccine in foreign countries.

Complaint About Non-Availability Of Covid19 Vaccine In India Though Available In Other Countries:Allahabad High Court To Discuss With ICMR Today

Today, Dr. Nivedita Gupta appearing on behalf of ICMR assured the Court that a vaccine to prevent further spread of the virus shall be available in the 'near future'. As recorded in the Court's order,

"ICMR was connected through Video Conferencing and the Court had an opportunity to talk to Dr. Nivedita Gupta, who has given information with regard to the development of the vaccination programme in India. She was confident that vaccines would be available in the near future."

Inter alia, the Court considered the issue with respect to small eateries and ordered that no edible food shall be sold in open.

Earlier, the High Court had issued detailed instructions for opening and functioning of hotels, restaurants and small outlets/ eateries in the State, amid the pandemic. Only such joints, that signed an undertaking for compliance with the Court's prescriptions, were permitted to open.

Allahabad HC Issues Instructions To Regulate Restaurants/Eateries Amid Pandemic

During the course of hearing, the Advocate Commissioners told the Court that roadside eateries were not following the norms laid down by the Food and Drugs Department at all. In this backdrop the Bench ordered,

"The local administration along with the concerned department of Food and Drug Administration may see that the undertaking given by the eateries are extended by a further six weeks and may further ensure that no edible is sold in the open. Any edible which would be sold, would only be sold in packages."

A fresh report in this regard is to be submitted by December 3, 2020.

Other orders of the Allahabad High Court for enforcing the mandatory mask rule:

• "No Person Should be Seen Outside his/ her House Without Mask on Face": Orders Allahabad HC Saying 'If Action Not Taken Today, We Won't Be Able To Face Our Progenies'
• Allahabad HC Issues Further Directions For Wearing Masks In Public Spaces
• 'Even Police Personnel Outside Their Police Stations Are Not Wearing Masks': Allahabad HC Expresses Displeasure At Shoddy Implementation Of Its Orders
• [Covid-19] Allahabad HC Orders Constant Police Surveillance On All Roads To Ensure People Wear Masks
• Covid-19: Allahabad HC Asks DGP To Prepare A 'Definite Modus Operandi' To Ensure Social Distancing, 100% People Wear Masks

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