`Laughable': Telangana HC slams police for registering only four SOP violation cases
Telangana high court came down heavily on the state police for registered only four cases of violation of social distancing norms.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 28 April 2021 5:17 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Telangana high court came down heavily on the state police for registered only four cases of violation of social distancing norms.
"It is ridiculous that only four social distance cases have been registered in the state," said Chief Justice Hima Kohli.
Telangana police had registered only four across the state against those who did not maintain the Covid protocol of Social Distance at public places. Only two cases were booked for the unlawful holding of public meetings.
A bench of Chief Justice (CJ) Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was hearing the case related to the status of COVID in the state. "This is a joke. These figures are laughable and reflect how the police are not interested in enforcing the law. You could register four cases in one area, as can still see more violations. But, the police are not able to see such violations," the CJ said.
The court advised the police to impose fines on violators who do not properly wear masks. "Wearing masks at head or chin is not what is advised in the Covid protocol. The mask should cover the mouth and nose. Else, impose the fine," the court asked the police.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the contents of the report submitted by the State government, the Telangana High Court on Tuesday wanted to know the measures being taken to arrest the spread of Coronavirus during the elections to seven urban local bodies (ULBs), which are scheduled to go to polls on April 30.
The court issued notices to the State Election Commission asking it to furnish the action plan as also the arrangements for managing crowds during the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for April 30. The report must be furnished by the SEC on April 28.
Observing that it was "not at all satisfied" with the information furnished by the state government on COVID19 situation, the court sought to know from the government what the next step beyond night curfew is.
The night curfew imposed by the government comes to an end by Friday. Hearing a batch of PIL pleas on COVID19 related matters, the bench noted that most of the issues raised in its previous 17 page order were not answered by the government.
The bench earlier instructed the government to ensure private hospitals did not insist on RTPCR reports for admitting patients. But Advocate General B.S. Prasad failed to present any Government Order (GO) or notification from the government on this point, the CJ observed
The bench reminded the AG of the letter from the Union Home Secretary to all Chief Secretaries of the States calling for enforcing containment framework and restrictions in places witnessing high incidence of coronavirus. The letter clearly indicated that more than 60% of the patients would require oxygen or Intensive Care Unit beds if COVID19 positivity rate was 10% or more.
The court expressed unhappiness over doubling of the Covid-19 cases in several areas. It wanted bulletins on the extent of infection issued district-wise on a daily basis and felt that the figures relating to Covid-19 deaths were too few to be true.
The bench directed the State to furnish details of graveyards in the state and the facilities available there. It asked the government to provide toll-free numbers for people to get help for transporting the bodies of the Covid-19 victims.
