COMPULSORY COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR NOT WEARING MASKS: GUJARAT HC

An angry Gujarat High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to make it mandatory for those spotted without masks and breaking the rules of social distancing, to provide 5-6 hours of daily compulsory community service at Covid-19 centres. The order comes amid a massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.

The High Court has directed the state government to issue a notification on the issue. Appropriate responsibility for community service should be assigned considering the age, qualification and other matters of the person not wearing a mask. A person who does not wear a mask must do five to six hours of community service daily. The duration of this community service can be from 10-15 days. The court also directed the state government to implement the order immediately and submit a report in a week.

WHAT THE HIGH COURT SAID

The Gujarat High Court has said: “Send people who walk around without a face cover mask and break the rules of social distancing for 10 to 15 days for social service at the Covid care centres. Also collect fines from them. This step will help the state government to stop the spread of Covid.”

The state government was reluctant to bring such a policy and told the High Court that this position was similar to that of Prince Hamlet—because of this, they are having difficulty in implementing policy. The Gujarat High Court directed the state government to issue a circular for non-wearing of masks, non-compliance with social distance and other rules to send non-medical services to Covid care centres.