The Karnataka High Court has pulled up Belagavi police for not registering an FIR for not following social distancing norms during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally held on January 17. The bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj expressed their disappointment over the Police Commissioner’s affidavit, when the court had, in March, prima facie held that rules were violated during the rally.
The Police Commissioner was directed to take necessary action then, however, after perusal of the affidavit file before the court, the court held that it showed complete ignorance of regulations laid down under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, reported LiveLaw.
“Perhaps the commissioner was unaware about the provisions of said regulation made under the of Act of 2020. The affidavit of commissioner shows that not a single FIR was registered against violators,” the bench reportedly remarked.
The bench observed that the affidavit shows that the Commissioner approached the matter rather casually, and, as per LiveLaw, the bench commented, “large gathering in Belagavi where rules regarding wearing of masks and social distancing were thrown to the wind. But the commissioner seems to be satisfied with the recovery of the fine amount”.
The court has asked the Commissioner to explain why even a single FIR was not registered in this matter, and directed that an affidavit be filed to that effect by June 3.
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