COVID-19: Lockdown violators may face 6 months jail, ₹1,000 fine
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet on Monday expressing that some people are not taking the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak seriously, the Centre urged the states to strictly impose shutdown.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet on Monday (March 23) expressing that some people are not taking the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak seriously, the Centre urged the states to strictly impose shutdown.
The statements came in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic cases crossing the 400-mark on Monday with the Centre instructing the state governments to take legal action against those who are found violating the lockdown orders and the violators may also face six months jail or ₹1,000 fine under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
“States have been asked to strictly enforce the lockdown in the areas where it has been announced. Legal action will be taken against violators,” a tweet by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) read on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister urged the state governments to ensure rules and laws are implemented.
“Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to ensure implementation of rules and laws,” PM Modi tweeted in Hindi amid 82 districts in the country announcing lockdown.
In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal imposed restrictions starting 6 AM on Monday, to continue till midnight of March 31.
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States including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Telangana announced near total or complete lockdown until month end with a view to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus via community transmission.
A similar statement was given by Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa who imposed section 144 in the state further restricting the assembly of more than five people in one place to practice social distancing after Janata curfew.
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Borders of the national capital will remain sealed during the lockdown, however, essential services related to health, food, water and power supply will continue, and 25 per cent of the DTC buses will run to transport people associated with essential services, Kejriwal announced on Sunday.
The lockdown imposition was decided in the backdrop of urgency to extend restrictions, including the movement of non-essential passenger transport.
