SC stays Gujarat HC order mandating community service at COVID19 centres for mask rule violators

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 3

The Supreme Court Thursday stayed a Gujarat High Court order making it mandatory for those not wearing face masks to do community service at COVID19 patient care centres.

The order came from a Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan on Gujarat government’s petition challenging the High Court’s order even as it expressed concern over COVID19 guidelines not being followed scrupulously in the state.

On behalf of Gujarat Government, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta pointed out that health of face mask rule violators forced to provide community service at COVID19 care centres could be endangered due to the High Court’s order.

It asked Gujarat Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to ensure that the  guidelines issued by the Central and state authorities on wearing masks and physical distancing were followed.

The top court asked the Centre and states to give suggestions on how to strictly implement the guidelines on face masks and physical distancing.

It asked the Himachal Pradesh government to file a status report regarding facilities for treatment of COVID19 patients in the state and the infrastructure available for it after it was told about lack of facilities for treatment of those infected with the deadly virus in the state.

The Bench – which had taken suo motu cognisance of COVID19 situation in June – had earlier expressed concern over the spurt in number of COVID19 cases across India and said that while the pandemic situation in Delhi had “worsened”, it had gone “out of control” in Gujarat.