The Government of NCT of Delhi has issued the Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID -19 Regulations, 2020 under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 for prevention and containment of COVID-19. 

In light of the above notification and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, a lockdown in the whole of territorial jurisdiction of NCT of Delhi from 0600 hrs on March 23, 2020 till midnight of March 31, 2020.

Following restrictions have been imposed:

1. No public transport services including operation of private buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws and e-rickshaws etc shall operate. Only DTC buses shall operate at not more than 25% capacity to cater to personnel engaged in essential services.
2. All shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices, godowns, weekly bazaars etc. shall close their operations.
3. The motorable and unmotorable borders of NCT of Delhi with the neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh shall be sealed.
4. Movement of inter-state buses/trains/metro DMRC shall be suspended.
5. All domestic/international flights arriving to Delhi during this period shall be suspended.
6. Construction activity of any kind shall be suspended.
7. All religious places of all denomination shall be closed.
8. People are required to stay at home and come out only for basic services (as enumerated below) within the vicinity of their residences while strictly following the social distancing guidelines issued earlier.

The following services/establishments are excluded from the purview of the lockdown and shall continue to function normally:

1. Offices charged with law and order and magisterial duties;
2. Police;
3. Health;
4. Fire;
5. Prisons;
6. Fair Price Shops;
7. Electricity;
8. Water;
9. Municipal Services;
10. Activities related to functioning of Legislative Assembly of Delhi;
11. Pay and Accounts Office (only for salary/wages/contingent/health & essential services related expenditure), ;
12. Print and electronic media;
13. Cashier/teller operations of banks (including ATMs);
14. Telecom, internet and postal services;
15. E-commerce of all essential goods including food, pharmaceutical and medical equipment;
16. Food items, groceries (fruits/vegetables/milk/bakery items, meat, fish etc.)
17. Milk plants;
18. General provision stores;
19. Take away/home deliveries in restaurants;
20. Chemists and pharmacies;
21. Petrol pumps, LPG/oil agencies (including their godown and transportation-related activities)
22. Animal fodder;
23. Manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution, storage, trade/commerce and logistics related to all the aboveservices/establishments and commodities required for delivery of these above services;
24. Any other essential service/establishment that may be exempted by the government;

Moreover, the government of NCT of Delhi further stated that people who come out to provide or avail essential services shall be allowed on their self-declaration.

Any congregation of more than 5 persons is strictly prohibited and punishable under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC).

In a very interesting move, the government also specifically stated that the employees of private establishments (including temporary, contractual, outsourced etc.) required to stay at home shall be treated as “on duty” and be paid in full.

Authorities such as Addl. Chief Secretary (Transport) of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), Chairperson of NDMC, Chairpersons of Airport Authority of India (AAI), Commissioner of police, Delhi, Commissioner (SDMC/EDMC/NDMC), Managing Director (MD) of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, GM. Northern Railway, Commissioner (F&CS) of GNCTD, MD of Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (DSIIDC), all district magistrate of GNCTD of Delhi, Commissioner, Excise, GNCTD and Controller (Weights & Measures), GNTCD have been given responsibility by government to make sure effectively compliance of regulations.

[Read Order]

Author – Satwik Sharma