DCs to enforce safety measures; Rs 2,000 fine for violating home quarantine norms, Rs 500 for spitting in public places
Jammu Tawi, July 20: A day after Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu made a fervent appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to follow Covid-19 guidelines, the UT administration on Monday authorised all Deputy Commissioners to enforce the safety measures and impose penalties for violating the norms to prevent the spread of deadly virus.
The administration has decided that it would impose a penalty of Rs 2,000 on the people violating home quarantine instructions while the spitting at public places would now invite a fine of Rs 500.
The persons violating social distancing norms will be slapped a penalty of Rs 2,000 while persons not wearing masks in public places will have to pay a fine of Rs 500.
Some district administrations have already decided to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 for not wearing masks.
The government has also decided to penalise the vehicle owners for violating the social distancing norms.
“The bus owners violating social distancing norms will have to pay a fine of Rs 3,000 while the penalty amount for cars is Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 for auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers.
“Non-payment of penalty by the violator will attract the proceedings under section 188 of the IPC 1960,” said a government order.
The decision of government to penalise violators comes against the backdrop of a major surge in positive cases and Covid-19 related deaths in Jammu and Kashmir.
Around 7,000 people have been tested positive for coronavirus and nearly 150 deaths have been reported across the Union Territory so far this month.
On Sunday, the Lieutenant Governor while making an appeal to the people had said that the number of COVID-19 cases had increased rapidly in the UT during the last 15 days, particularly after the lifting of restrictions.
He had warned that the COVID-19 pandemic would spread rapidly if the guidelines were not followed by people.
