54 thousand people have been arrested so far for breaking the rules made during the Corona period

From the year 2020 to 21, the whole world saw the terrible form of the Korana epidemic. Seeing its seriousness, all the countries had to make strict rules and regulations. A provision was also made for punishment and fine on those who did not obey them. Similarly, during the peak of the Kovid epidemic, strict rules were implemented in India during the lockdown and action was also taken for non-compliance.

A study by Vidhi Center for Legal Policy, a policy think tank, has revealed that during this period, more than 54,000 people were arrested in the country’s capital Delhi for not following the Covid norms within a year. Not only this, FIR was also registered against more than 23 thousand people.

23,094 FIRs registered in lockdown

Recently, in view of the havoc of Corona in China, the Ministry of Health, Government of India has issued special guidelines. Similar guidelines were issued during the lockdown in India in the past years during the Korana epidemic. According to the revelations in a study by Vidhi Center for Legal Policy, a policy think tank, many people had to face FIRs and arrests for breaking the Covid norms during the lockdown.

Within a year, punitive action was taken against many people in the capital Delhi for disobeying the Covid norms. Law enforcement agencies took action against these people under the Epidemic Diseases Act (ED Act) of 1897, the Disaster Management Act (DM) of 2005 and the penal provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A total of 23,094 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered between March 2020 and March 2022 in seven districts of Delhi, according to a recent study by Vidhi Center for Legal Policy, a policy think tank. These FIRs were registered for violating Covid related standards and instructions. Most of the FIRs were registered for not wearing masks.

According to the report, 54,919 people were also arrested during such violations. However, courts dealing with such cases have ordered different punishments for similar violations. Where one court imposed a fine of Rs 4400 for not wearing a mask, the other ordered a fine of only Rs 50. Significantly, to prevent Kovid infection, the Government of India imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 24, 2020.

90 crore fine for breaking covid rules

Law enforcement agencies were armed with the Epidemic Diseases Act (ED Act) of 1897, the Disaster Management Act (DM) of 2005 and the penal provisions of the Indian Penal Code, (IPC) to strictly enforce the lockdown. Vidhi Center for Legal Policy had studied how these agencies implemented the penal provisions and how effective they were. This study was based on the implementation of norms related to Kovid-19 in Delhi.

Through this, FIRs registered during the Kovid epidemic, the role of police and courts in implementing Kovid-19 standards were understood. The objective of this study was to understand the use of criminal laws to enforce COVID-19 prevention measures in Delhi. In this, it was seen whether banning people through criminal laws changes their public behavior. They are ready to behave properly.

The report, in the ‘Lest We Forget’ series, observed that the government had set a daily target of fines of up to Rs 2,000. In this, the government had emphasized on dealing with the disease through punishment. As a result, in 8 to 9 districts of Delhi, the police and other officials collected more than Rs 90 crore as fine from the people who violated the Covid norms. Out of 110 cases studied, the accused were found guilty in 106 cases. In 102 cases, the culprits were sentenced. At the same time, no one was punished without any crime.

Situation like lockdown not yet

Responsible for the sudden increase in corona cases in China corona virus The Omicron variant BF.7 had knocked in India in October itself. So far 3 cases have been reported in the country. In view of the situation of Kovid in the neighboring country China, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has issued instructions on Wednesday 21st December to be vigilant and take precautions. He also said that the country is ready to deal with any kind of situation.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, all the provinces of the country have been asked to send samples of Kovid positive cases to genome sequencing laboratories on priority basis. There are instructions to states and union territories to take special precautions. The Union Ministry of Health and the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium-INSACOG are monitoring the corona cases in the country.

The Health Ministry has increased surveillance at all domestic and international airports in the country. Instructions have also been given to strictly check the people entering the country from abroad and to provide all kinds of facilities for identification of new variants. A special protocol has been prepared for Indians going abroad on New Year’s return to the country. With this, samples can be sent immediately for genome sequencing as soon as symptoms of corona are found in these people.

Amidst all this, former director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Randeep Guleria has told PTI that there has been no increase in Kovid cases in India and the situation in India is still fine.