New Delhi, 7th April 2021: The Delhi High court on Wednesday said, it is mandatory to wear a mask even if you are alone in the car. The vehicle is like a public place and the safety shield is not to be forgotten while sitting in it.
Announcing the decision while hearing a case involving fines for not wearing a mask while driving alone, Judge Pratibha M Singh said, “Even if you are alone in the car, why object to wearing a mask? It is for your own safety.”
After this decision, it is clear that it will be necessary to wear masks even now while being alone in the car; otherwise the police may cut your challan. The court said that the mask is such a protective shield that not only protects the wearer but also protects his near ones.
In this way, the High Court dismissed the petitions challenging the challan for not wearing a mask while driving alone in a private vehicle during the Covid-19 epidemic. On February 17, the Delhi High Court reserved its decision on the petitions filed against the use of masks even when they were alone in the car. In this case, many people had challenged in the High Court about the invoicing. Justice Pratibha M Singh reserved the verdict after hearing the arguments of the Center, the Delhi government, and the petitioners.
According to the Live Law website, the Central Government during the hearing had said that it would be mandatory to wear masks if left alone in the car, no order was ever issued in this regard. However, the government further said that the health of the people is a state subject and the Delhi government has to make a decision on it.
At the same time, it was told in the court on behalf of the Delhi government that it was mandatory in April 2020 to apply masks while alone while driving personal or office and this order are still effective.
Sudesh Kumar, one of the petitioners against the challan, had told the court that he had to pay Chalan even after covering the mouth and nose with a scarf while driving the car, while he was alone in the car at that time.
Kumar’s lawyer told the court that the challan given to him did not mention any crime and had written the date of its occurrence. This challan was issued by a sub-inspector while the challan book already had the stamp of the magistrate. Not only this, but he was also not given any receipt in lieu of a fine.
In the national capital on Tuesday, Covid-19 received the highest number of 5100 new cases this year. The death toll rose to 11,113 with 17 more patients dying of the infection. According to Delhi’s Health Department, the infection rate is 4.93 percent in the last few weeks amid a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that the AAP government is on an alert in the state of the epidemic and is keeping a close watch.
Jain told reporters that so far more than 12 lakh people have been vaccinated in Delhi.
The number of Covid cases in Delhi increased to 6, 85,062 on Tuesday while 6.56 lakh patients have been cured. According to the Health Bulletin, the number of under-treated patients have increased to 17,332 as compared to 14,589 patients a day earlier. There were 3548 cases in Delhi on Monday and 15 people died. While 4033 cases were reported on Sunday and 21 patients died.