NEW DELHI: The Home Ministry on Friday (April 10, 2020) directed all state governments to ensure compliance of lockdown measures to fight coronavirus COVID-19 menace. The Home Ministry also directed the states to ban all social and religious events, gatherings and processions for some time.
A statement issued by the Home Ministry said, "In view of the ensuing festivals in the month of April 2020, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all States/UTs to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures to fight COVID—19 and not allow any social/religious gathering/procession.’’
"It has been communicated to inform District authorities and field agencies on the specific prohibitions as mentioned in the Consolidated Guidelines on Lockdown Measures and that they should take all required precautionary/preventive measures for maintenance of law and order, peace and public tranquillity,’’ the MHA order said.
The MHA also called for maintaining an appropriate vigil on social media to ensure no objectionable content is circulated.
"Appropriate vigil on social media should also be maintained against the circulation of any objectionable content, the communication adds,’’ the MHA order said.
"The communication has further requested that for the attention of the public authorities, social/religious organisation and citizens, the respective provisions of the guidelines should be widely circulated. It adds that for violation of any lockdown measure, action under the relevant penal provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and IPC should be taken by the law enforcement agencies,’’ it added.
"The consolidated guidelines on the lockdown measures to be taken by Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, State/Union Territory Governments and State/ Union Territory Authorities for containment of COVID-19 epidemic in the country were notified by Ministry of Home Affairs on 24.03.2020 and further modified on 25.03.2020, 27.03.2020, 02.04.2020 and 03.04.2020. Clause 9 & 10 of the Consolidated Guidelines state that no religious congregation will be permitted without any exception and all social/cultural/religious functions/gatherings shall be barred,’’ the Home Ministry said in the release.
In a separate order, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, asked BSF to enhance vigil along Pakistan, Bangladesh borders, especially at non-fenced areas.
