Coronavirus: No section 144 in Pune says District Collector

Pune, March 16, 2020: There has been a lot of misinformation about section 144 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), which restricts gathering of more than four persons, in Pune. However, Pune district administration has clarified that section 144 has not been imposed.

District Magistrate Naval Kishore Ram said, “Some restrictions have been imposed in Pune city and the district under the Epidemic Diseases Act. There is no separate 144 section CrPC imposed. There is no communication blockade or restrictions on movements in Pune at present.”

He further said that all schools in the entire Pune district have been closed. He urged people to avoid the rush of travel, jatra and big festivals. Citizens should move out of the house only if needed.

He also made sure that police will take action if there is a violation of orders issued. Meanwhile, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad police have directed tour operators, hotels, lodges, etc to share details of customers, both Indians and foreigners, who have a history of foreign visit in the recent past.

Stating that preventing Coronavirus spread was highest priority and situation was under control so far because of steps taken by state Government, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed all the district collectors to prevent crowds at religious places during regular daily religious rituals.

Chief Minister made it clear that it was the responsibility of collectors to ensure that prevention of Epidemic Act was strictly implemented and after the calamity of Corona disease was over the religious festivities and celebrations can take place as usual. He also directed that for preventing the spread of disease, no convention or program of political organizations and parties should take place.

Chief Minister on Monday had a video conference with all the divisional commissioners, district collectors from his official residence Varsha bungalow. Minister for industries Subhash Desai, health minister Rajesh Tope, minister for tourism Aditya Thackeray, minister of state Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar, chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, principal secretary to the health department Dr Pradeep Vyas were present.

Stating that any person who is infected with Coronavirus was not a criminal, the chief minister directed the officials to ensure treatment as well as counselling for such a patient. He asked the officials to undertake a campaign to create awareness among people towards the prevention of epidemic act since it was in the interest of people. He said that those who have been found positive and are quarantined need to be provided with necessary facilities and counselling. He also informed that the patients in the state who are admitted to hospitals are giving response to the treatment.

Chief Minister directed the district administration that law and rules were for everyone and there should not be any permission for either political programs or religious festivities or celebrations. He said that citizens who have been advised to be home quarantines need to stay at home and take care of others in addition to themselves. He told that while closing down schools in rural places, it was to be ensured that sanitisers and soap, as well as water, are available at public toilets. By stating that the state government was taking all the measures to prevent Coronavirus impact, the chief minister appealed to citizens to remain alert.

Asking the officials to ban all the religious festivities to prevent the spread of Coronavirus infection, the devotees need to be stopped at religious places with an exception of daily worships and religious rituals. Asking the district collectors to effectively implement the law in the larger public interest, the chief minister told to close down all the schools in rural areas. He told that elections to the village Panchayats and local bodies have been postponed by three months. Stating that divisional commissioners would be given a total of Rs. 45 crores as the first instalment for implementing emergency measures to prevent Coronavirus infections. By asking the officials to implement home quarantine for the travellers who have been told to go for home quarantine, the chief minister appealed the officials to undertake these measures with maintaining the human face of the same.

Important decisions are taken

Local body elections postponed for three months

Rural schools also to be closed down

Divisional commissioners to be given Rs 45 crores for undertaking emergency measures including Rs. 15 crores and Rs. 10 crores to Konkan and Pune divisional commissioner while Rs. 5 crores each to Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad and Nashik divisions as the first instalment.

Provide facilities of food, TV sets, carrom boards at quarantine places

To identify persons who have been asked to be home quarantined, a stamp would be imprinted on their left hand to prevent them from coming to open places. Dubai, US and Saudi Arabia also included in the list of seven countries declared by the Union Government for quarantine.

District administration asked to spend for ventilator and other equipment if needed by availing from local markets.

Visitors would not be allowed in Mantralaya from tomorrow which is Tuesday

Citizens asked to approach district administration by using mails for their grievances and district administration asked to respond to such emails in seven days

staff from local police stations to be appointed for approaching to those who have been home quarantined

taking participation of religious leaders and elected representatives for effective implementation of the law for the larger public interest.