No fresh restrictions under Section 144 order: Mumbai Police
AMN / WEB DESK
As Covid-19 cases continue to be on the rise in Mumbai, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the city starting midnight of September 17 in order to contain the virus spread.
The order is only an extension of the previous order issued by the officials on August 31 and no new restrictions have been imposed.
With this, the restriction on the gathering of a large group has been extended in Mumbai till September 30.
Soon after the order was imposed, social media was abuzz as the new order went viral with many mistaking it as fresh restrictions on movement in the city.
“The Mumbai Police order is an extension of existing orders and all exemptions under Unlock which will be applicable in Mumbai City up to 30th September will continue,” the Mumbai Police said, clearing confusion around the order imposed on Thursday.
Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray, too, took to Twitter and urged Mumbaikars to not be alarmed as it’s only an extension to pre-existing order.
“The order issued under section 144 CrPC is only an extension of the previous order issued on 31st August. No new restrictions have been imposed by @MumbaiPolice Please share and don’t panic,” he tweeted.
The order prohibits “any presence or movement of one or more persons in public places, or gathering of any sort anywhere, including religious places subject to the conditions given.”
“All movement of one or more persons in the areas designated as “Containment Zone” by the Municipal Authorities is prohibited, except for essential activities, supply of essential foods and medical emergencies,” the order said.
Outside containment zones, movement of one or more persons in the city is prohibited except for medical emergencies and for the following exempted entities:
Emergency duties: government/semi-government agencies and their officials on duty
An establishment providing essential services like:
Food, vegetables, milk supplies, ration and grocery stores
Hospitals, medicines, pharma and related establishments, pathology medical nursing colleges
Telephone and internet services
Electricity, petroleum oil and energy-related
Banking, stock exchange. Clearing corporation. depositories stockbrokers and SEBI registered participants operating through these institutions
IT and IT-enabled services and data centres providing services for critical national and international infrastructure and needed for the above essential and emergency services.
Services providing home delivery of food, groceries and essential commodities
E-commerce activity for essential and non-essential items and materials
Drinking water supply and maintenance
Godowns and warehousing related to all of the above.
Trucks/Tempos carrying goods and manpower related to the above services.
Besides, the order said all movement of one or more persons in the city for non-essential activities is prohibited, except for:
- Activities mentioned above
- Activities exempted by Maharashtra government’s Unlock guidelines for September.
The Maharashtra government’s September Unlock guidelines allowed a wide range of activities, such as non-essential shops, hotels, private offices and passenger movements by bus.