COVID19: Plea In SC Seeks Issuance Of Guidelines To Regulate Movement Of Public During Nationwide Lockdown [Read Petition]

"…regarding movement of public to meet their basic necessities so that the police and public can come to a clear understanding of the situations or else keeping areas entirely locked down for 2-3 days and opening it for a particular time after that will lead to huge public gathering which will frustrate the whole purpose of lockdown" – the petition states.

It has been contended that even though guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs categorically which exempted "essential services" from the lockdown, there have been numerous instances of police brutality on persons violating the lockdown. According to the petitioner, absence of such guidelines is in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The petitioner further elucidates,

"The violence ranges from making the violators crawl on the road to viciously employing lathi charge against them. In one particular case in West Bengal, a man died after being beaten up by the police as he had stepped out to buy milk during the lockdown"

In light of the above, petitioner emphasizes the need for a framework of guidelines by highlighting another "shocking incident" in Guwahati wherein people came out in a frenzy to buy vegetables because of restricted sale to six designated places.

The petitioner seeks clarification regarding exemptions of shops, basic necessities, LPG carriers etc. as if the same situation were to continue, it would create panic amongst the public.

Inter alia, a list of suggestions for the court to consider have also been averred by the petitioner, some of which are:-

• Maintainence of hygiene by grocery shops and inspections;
• Installation of card swiping machines at grocery shops;
• Allowing only one person to enter a grocery store and deployment of representatives to ensure this;
• Allowing only one person to visit store;
• Distribution of Government sealed ID proofs which can be stamped after every visit to the grocery store;
• No person shall go beyond their nearest grocery store;
• Ensuring availability of essential commodities in all grocery stores;
• Home delivery of medicines by pharmacies;
• Anyone requesting for medicines for fever, cold, headache to be tested immediately;
• Banks should make sure functioning of every ATM and presence of a Security Guard with one person per family being allowed access.

The petition has been filed and drawn by Advocate Kaushik Chaudhary.

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[Read Petition]