Strictly follow Covid norms in city markets: Delhi HC

NEW DELHI: In view of the Diwali season, Delhi High Court asked the Aam Aadmi Party government and police on Monday to "scrupulously" enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour and crowd control, especially in market places.
While protocols and guidelines filed by the authorities appear nice on paper, those need to be strictly enforced on the ground, the court said. "We expect from the respondents (Centre, Delhi government and Delhi Police) that these guidelines, standard operating procedures, Covid-appropriate behaviour and controlling of the crowd at marketplaces will be executed by them scrupulously this festive season," a bench of chief justice DN Patel and justice Jyoti Singh said, adding that "strict compliance is required".
The court's direction came after the authorities claimed they were taking all necessary steps to prevent the spread of Covid.It sought another report on the enforcement of protocols and said the situation should be reviewed on November 30.
The court was hearing a matter on its own following violation of Covid protocols in various markets in Delhi. During the hearing, the bench made it clear that it was not interested in seeing penalties being collected from people for violation of Covid norms, only that it wanted better crowd control and management efforts by the authorities.
It noted that in the status reports the authorities had cited the steps taken for implementing Covid-appropriate behaviour, including how to control the crowd at marketplaces and also outlined ways to engage volunteers for the implementation of guidelines and sanitisation of public utilities.
On its part, Delhi government said it had time and again issued appropriate guidelines and also shut down markets where the protocols weren't being followed.
Earlier this year, the high court had initiated a PIL after taking note of certain photographs, sent to one of its judges on WhatsApp by an AIIMS doctor, showing scant regard for Covid protocols by street vendors in markets.
The court had observed that such breaches would only hasten the third wave of coronavirus infection, which couldn't be allowed to happen. It also cautioned that if this behaviour of flouting Covid norms continued, the city would be in great trouble. "We have paid a huge price in the second wave. We don't know if there is any household that has not suffered in the second wave, closely or remotely," the bench had observed.