Not wearing face masks will invite ₹500 fine in Pulwama

PULWAMA — As a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection, district authorities in Pulwama while invoking Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act and Section 188 IPC has made it mandatory to wear face masks / face covers in public. Moreover, resorting to spitting at public places has also been made an liable offence.

In this connection, District Magistrate Pulwama, Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary who is also the Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority issued an order on Tuesday in which people have been cautioned to wear masks / face covers in public places or work places along with avoidance of spitting at public places.

The order has been issued in ‘public interest’ and anyone found without masks or spitting at public places shall be penalised monetarily by an amount of 500 rupees.

The government, health institutions and medical experts have been continuously issuing circulars and guidelines in which people are advised people to wear masks, maintenance of social distancing, hand washing, use of sanitisers and avoidance of spitting at public places to contain the spread of Coronavirus infection.

The market checking teams of FS&CA, Legal Meteorology and Food Safety and Standards under the supervision of Tehsildars / Executive Magistrates (1st Class) have already been entrusted the task of regulating social distancing norms with an aim to break the chain of infection.

Social distancing at prominent places like grocery shops, vending points and other shops dealing with essential commodities has been made mandatory in the district.

In this connection, special drives have been launched across the district for effective implementation of the order issued by the administration regarding regarding wearing of masks mandatorily and prohibition of spitting at public places.