Shoppers examine fabric face masks on sale at a market in Dimapur. (Morung File Photo by Soreishim Mahong)
Kohima, November 13 (MExN): As COVID-19 tightens its hold on Nagaland, the State Government has authorised various enforcement agencies to impose penalties on citizens who are violating COVID-19 safety protocols in public spaces anywhere in the state.
An order to this effect was issued on Friday stipulating various violations, penalties and who will be responsible for conducting inspections or checks. The order will come into force immediately and shall remain valid till further orders, it said.
For persons not wearing mask in public places (including offices, banks, markets and business establishments, restaurants, hotels, public transport, social and religious gatherings or meetings, educational institutions), a fine of Rs 100 will be imposed every time the offence is committed. As per the order, Police personnel at the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and above and Transport department officials at the rank of Assistant Road Safety & Enforcement Inspector and above are the enforcement agencies.
For shops and business establishments including restaurants and hotels who do not provide hand washing facilities or hand sanitizers, the first offence would attract a penalty of Rs 500 and a warning.
Any subsequent offence after one week of the first offence would translate to sealing of the establishment with or without suspension of registration/license wherever applicable, till such facilities are provided. The respective Urban Local Bodies have been authorised to enforce this stipulation.
Police personnel at the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and above and Transport department officials at the rank of Assistant Road Safety & Enforcement Inspector and above have also been entrusted with ensuring that public transport vehicles such as buses, taxis and auto rickshaws adhere to the limit on the number of passengers as per guidelines.
Anyone found violating the prescribed limit of passengers would be booked under relevant sections of the National Disaster Management Act 2005 and Nagaland Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, the order stated.
In the case of violation or non-compliance of any other clauses, provisions of SOPs, advisories currently in force, including but not limited to Quarantine, Isolation, Contact Tracing, Testing (e.g. refusal to disclose contacts, refusal to undergo testing, breaking quarantine or isolation norm, discrimination or stigmatization of those affected by COVID-19, etc), respective District Task Forces have been entrusted with registering cases under relevant sections of the National Disaster Management Act 2005 and Nagaland Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020.
