The Karnataka high court has ordered the state government to establish a redressal mechanism within three days through which citizens can file acomplaint if there is a violation of covid norms related to not wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.
A bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj while hearing a petition filed by Letzkit foundation said that “We direct the state government to make grievance redressal system giving citizens a power to forward complaints of infringement so that complaints can be investigated by State level and City level board”.
It also stated that “Grievance mechanism will provide a facility of filing complaints through email and through Whatsapp or any other form ofmedia. The grievance redressal mechanism will be informed within three days from April 23, 2021, and wide exposure will be given to accessibility of system in newspaper and media. Further information related to usage will be informed in offices of all local authority including BBMP.”
In its past order, the court had said that the right to have a healthy life is an essential part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The right to have a healthy life can't be restricted by people who do not care to follow rules related to masks, maintaining social distance, congregating and so on.
Accordingly, it had explained, "As far as offense under sub section 1 of section 5, (Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act) for omission of wearing mask and social distancing is pulled in not just relation to coordinators/heads of rallies congregation but each and every single individual who participates in something similar and who commits infringement of wearing of mask and keeping up of social distancing and an offense as given in section 8 of the said act."
The court had then asked the Director General of Police (DGP), to give directions/guidelines to all police officials who are authorised to make a move of compounding, under sub section 1 of section 10 of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020, for effective execution of penal provisions of the said act.
The court had additionally coordinated the DGP to comprise a group of senior police who will screen enrollment of offenses punishable under the said act and examination thereof.
