Why No Single FIR Registered For COVID Norms Violation During Amit Shah's Rally? Karnataka High Court Pulls Up Police

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Police Commissioner of Belagavi for not registering even a single FIR over the violation of COVID protocols of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing during a rally led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Belagavi on January 17.

Earlier, on March 12, the High Court had prima facie held that there was violation of the rules regarding wearing of masks and social distancing in the rally. The Court had then directed the Police Commissioner to explain the action taken against violators.

Today, a division bench comprising Chief Justice AS Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj expressed unhappiness over the affidavit filed by the Police Commissioner.

"Perusal of the said affidavit shows complete ignorance on part of commissioner of regulations laid down under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020", the bench observed.

It added "Perhaps the commissioner was unaware about the provisions of said regulation made under the of Act of 2020. The affidavit of commissioner shows that not a single FIR was registered against violators."

The court said "Reading the affidavit as a whole, we find that the Commissioner approached the matter very casually. Large gathering in Belagavi where rules regarding wearing of masks and social distancing were thrown to the wind. But the commissioner seems to be satisfied with the recovery of the fine amount."

The court directed the Commissioner to explain why even a single First Information Report, was not registered for violation of provisions of the said Act of 2020 and regulations framed thereunder.

"We direct the Commissioner to file an affidavit by June 3", the Court directed.

The court also granted time to the state government and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to file compliance report to the orders passed earlier by the next date.