COVID-19 Pandemic: Section 144 imposed in Ghaziabad till May 10

The Ghaziabad administration has imposed Section 144 in order to prevent gatherings and control the spread and increase of Covid-19 infections in the district.

Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh):

The Ghaziabad administration has imposed Section 144  in order to prevent gatherings and control the spread and increase of Covid-19 infections in the district.

The decision has been taken ahead of festivals like Holi which will be observed later this month.

Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey also considered various ongoing protests and upcoming examinations ahead while taking the decision.

Section 144 has been imposed in Ghaziabad till May 10. Noida will also be under Section 144 till May 30.

As per the order, face covers and masks have been made mandatory for entry in cinema Halls, theatres, restaurants, schools, colleges and other educational institutions.

Meanwhile, in order to control rising Covid-19 cases across the country, the Gautam Buddh Nagar police have applied Section 144 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh from March 17 to April 30.

The imposition of Section 144 will affect festivities such as Holi, Shab-e-Baraat, Good Friday, Navratri, Ambedkar Jayanti, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti and Hanuman Jayanti.

"During these occasions, the chances of anti-social elements attempting to disrupt law and order cannot be ruled out," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ashutosh Dwivedi said in the order.

According to the provisions of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, imposed in Noida, people will have to strictly follow the Covid-19 rules imposed which includes social distancing and wearing of masks at public places.

Unauthorized mass gatherings will not be allowed at public places. Nobody would be allowed to roam around sticks, rods or firearms at public places except for people who are visually impaired and differently-abled, it stated.

"Nobody will be allowed to hold protests, processions or hunger strikes without permission from the competent authority, nor will they encourage anyone else to do so," the order stated.

"No firearms will be allowed inside any government or private office during the period. People who have been provided with armed security personnel by the government will ensure that their gunners stay out of offices," it added.

The police also cautioned against selling, playing or displaying any audio or visual, which could also tense the situation.

Any violation of the restrictive orders under CrPC section 144 or any of its sub-sections mentioned would lead to the prosecution of offenders under IPC section 188," the order warned.