MHA DO Lr. Dt. 21.5.2020 to Chief Secretaries and Administrators reg. violations in MHA guidelines and ensure proper implementation of the guidelines

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) vide its Order dated 17.05.2020, extended the lockdown period till 31.05.2020. With the extension of lockdown new guidelines have been issued, wherein, apart from activities specifically prohibited under the guidelines, all other activities have been permitted, except in containment zones.

It has been brought to the notice of the Ministry, through the media reports and other sources that there are violations, at various places, in the implementation of the MHA Guidelines. In this order it has been emphasized that the MHA guidelines should be strictly implemented and all the States/ UTs should take necessary steps to ensure the same.  Some of the specific points of consideration are mentioned below:

• Proper delineation of containment zones, and effective implementation of containment measures within those zones, is key to preventing the spread of COVID-19. In this respect, guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) need to be followed, and containment zones properly demarcated.
• States and UTs can now delineate various zones and decide on the activities to be prohibited, or allowed with restrictions, in accordance with the MHA Guidelines. Further, once the guidelines have been issued by the States/ UTs, they should be strictly implemented and action is taken if any deviations are noticed.
• The need to ensure night curfew, or prohibition of all non-essential activities, between 7 PM and 7 AM is an important element of the MHA guidelines. The night curfew has been mandated with a view to ensuring that people observe social distancing and to contain the risk of spread of infection. Accordingly, local authorities should be asked to issue orders in the entirety of their jurisdiction, under proper provisions of law, for the imposition of night curfew. Strict compliance of these orders should be ensured by the local authorities.
• The National Directives for COVID-19 Management should be followed throughout the country.

Read the order: