COVID-19: Section 144 imposed in Rajasthan for a month starting from Thursday

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New Delhi: In an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, the Rajasthan government on Tuesday (April 20) announced that Section 144 of the CrPC will be imposed in the entire state for a month.

The curbs will start from April 22 and will remain till May 21. Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits the assembly of five or more people in an area. Violators can be booked on charges of 'unlawful assembly'.

The decision was taken in view of the rising number of COVID cases in the state.

“Section 144 of the CrPC to be imposed in Rajasthan from 22nd April till 21st May, in view of current COVID19 situation,” Rajasthan Home Department said.

The state government has also issued directions to vaccinate vegetable sellers, milk and grocery vendors and medicine storekeepers who are above 45 years of age on a priority basis.

“The state has allowed essential services to operate and hence, the government wants to ensure those engaged in them don’t become super spreaders,” an order signed by Medical & Health and Family Welfare Secretary Siddharth Mahajan said.

Apart from these, the order said that the front line workers (police, revenue, drinking water, electricity department workers) who have not yet been vaccinated but are deputed in hotspot areas/containment zones should be vaccinated on a priority basis to ensure their life is not threatened.

India registered 2,59,170 new COVID-19 cases and 1,761 deaths in the last 24 hours, the data by the Union Health Ministry showed.