People Are Taking Covid-19 Directives 'Casually' On Account Of Unlock-4: Allahabad HC Issues Slew Of Directions To Prevent Transmission [Read Order]

In view of notification and enforcement of Unlock 4 Guidelines from September 1 onwards, the Allahabad High Court has expressed concern over wider spread of COVID-19 infection as people would go out.

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To prevent the same, the Division Bench comprising Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar have issued a slew of directions, including use of CCTV cameras to monitor whether people follow social distancing norms, appointment of Advocate Commissioners to oversee the ground situation, etc.

Monitor Crowds Via CCTV

The Bench stressed that there has to be a "comprehensive strategy" to ensure absolute compliance of wearing of masks and of social distancing norms by people. It has therefore directed the District Administration of Prayagraj to "install sufficient number of high-end CCTV cameras in addition to the ones which have been already installed in all such places where normally it is known that crowd of more than 100 accumulates"

It has been directed that when the CCTV footage is reviewed by the Zonal Officers, they shall report the matter to the SSP who shall immediately take action against the police officials posted in the area where it is found that people were conglomerating and were violating the COVID-19 Regulations of maintaining physical distancing and wearing of masks.

Appoint Advocate Commissioners

The State Legal Services of UP has been asked to appoint "Advocate Commissioners" in consultation with the Municipal Commissioner, Prayagraj, to oversee conditions in each of the 80 Wards within the city.

It has been instructed thus:

• Each Advocate Commissioner must be a resident of one of the wards in respect of which he shall be making the inspection.
• Each Advocate Commissioner shall have 4 Wards under him/ her and the Advocate Commissioner shall on a regular basis go around his/her area and see if any crowd is there and also see if anyone is avoiding the wearing of mask in public.
• The Advocate Commissioners shall report any violation of the COVID-19 Guidelines immediately to the Zonal Officer of the Nagar Nigam who shall in his turn take suitable steps.

Essential Services

The High Court observed that people are taking the COVID-19 directives casually on account of Unlock-4 and they are thus more likely to get affected in large numbers.

Therefore, it has asked the State Government to take such measures as are necessary to secure public health services under Section 112-B of the UP Municipal Corporations Act, 1959 and under similar provisions of the Municipalities Act, 1916.

To this end, the Court has directed the State to "revitalize" its Primary Health Centres and other dispensaries in the urban, suburban and rural areas.

"Collection centres of samples for testing the COVID-19 virus be there in all such health centres all over the district. Further, the Provincial Medical Service may be revitalized and they may have a 'State of the Art' facilities for all and sundry in the hospitals which are run by it," the Court directed.

It further ordered the State to:

• Take all necessary steps to establish a dedicated COVID Hospital as early as possible and place on record a blue print for the project within ten days;
• Ensure that no commercial activity takes place within containment zones
• Bar Associations in the State may frame guidelines for enforcing the wearing of mask in and around Court premises.

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Case Details:

Case Title: In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres And For Providing Better Treatment To Corona Positive Respondent

Case No.: PIL No. 574/2020

Quorum: Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Ajit Kumar

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