Coronavirus: Not more than 4 persons can gather in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad from today

Pune, March 19, 2020: As per the order issued by the Pune district Collector yesterday, Pune City Police and Pimpri-Chinchwad police will ensure that not more than four persons are found together at any place.

The district administration has restricted the gatherings of five or more than five people in public places which includes training, camps, private tuition and also government meetings, unless for important issues.

The order states, in Pune district, be it private or public place, any function including cultural and religious, festivals, celebrations, entertainment programmes, sports and other competitions and workshops, camps, training centres, meetings, protests and tour events where five or more than five people are likely to gather will be restricted.

The order, issued under the Maharashtra Police Act and Disaster Management Act, would not be applicable to railways stations, bus stands, government or semi-government offices, essential services like hospitals and medical services, cremation, grocery stores, canteens and mess for students only, competitive exams and critical national and international infrastructure projects important for the country and news channels/newspapers.In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the district administration has asked all the private firms involved in non-essential services to facilitate work from home option for its staff or face legal action.

The order is applicable companies having more than five working staff.Till March 18, the number of Coronavirus positive patients in Pune district was 19, while in the state it has increased to 45.District Collector Naval Kishore Ram, who is also the chairman of District Disaster Management Authority, issued the order under the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Those violating the order will be prosecuted for offence under section 188 (disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after filling FIR against them.Police teams in Pune and Pimpri-Chichwad have been formed to ensure compliance of the order.Ram said that police teams will physically search the offices of private companies to check the implementation of the order on mandatory work from home.

“The order was issued after getting complaints from people that their management has been forcing them to present in office. The companies violated previous directives of encouraging work from home for its employees.

Now we will be harsh against those companies not following the diktat for work from home. Not more than five persons can be working at the office premises at one time. All the companies will have to abide by the order,” he said.

Read District Collector’s order