Section 144 has been imposed in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida) due to the growing cases of Covid-19, upcoming festivals, and panchayat elections in the district.
In Ghaziabad, section 144 has been implemented till 10th May, and the prohibitory orders have been imposed in Noida till 30th April. People will now have to take the permission of the administration to do any kind of religious, political, and cultural programmes. More than 100 people will not be able to gather in these programmes.
The police administration has been asked to take stringent action against those who do not wear masks.
The restrictions have been imposed in view of the upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Baraat, Good Friday, Navratri, Ambedkar Jayanti, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti, Hanuman Jayanti, etc.
Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said that cinemas, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, schools, and colleges in the district will not allow anyone to enter without the masks.
No shopkeeper will sell the goods without masks and the buyer will also be required to put on masks.
“Any violation of the restrictive orders under CrPC section 144 or any of its sub-sections mentioned would lead to prosecution of offenders under IPC section 188,” the order warned.
Restrictions under Sec 144 of CrPC imposed in Gautam Budh Nagar till April 30, in view of rising COVID19 cases & upcoming festivals
Appeal to people to wear masks, maintain social distancing and follow all guidelines.Action to be taken against offenders,says Addnl DCP, Law&Order pic.twitter.com/KawtLxEk1B
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2021
What is Section 144
Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 authorises the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area. According to the law, every member of such ‘unlawful assembly’ can be booked for engaging in rioting.
According to the order under this section, there shall be no movement of public and all educational institutions shall also remain closed and there will be a complete bar on holding any kind of public meetings or rallies during the period of operation of this order.
