Prohibitory Order under Section 144 Cr.P.C

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 11, 2020

The District Magistrate, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai in an order issued on 11th September, 2020 has imposed prohibitory order under Section 144Cr.P.C in the entire District including Amlarem (Civil) Sub-Division, Thadlaskein Block and Laskein Block to prevent further spread of COVID-19.  

The order comes into effect from 12th September, 2020 until further order only for timing falling between 5.00 AM to 9.00 PM each day, restricting Inter-State movement, Border Haats and markets located in the interstate Borders.

According to order any assembly whatsoever and while enforcing this, it is mandatory that every individual is to maintain a social distancing of at least six feet, to wear a face mask and to strictly follow the various protocols and advisories of the Government.

Opening of religious places or places of worship of all faiths to the public including religious congregations is not allowed. However, marriage rituals in places of worship are permitted only after obtaining permission from the District Magistrate.

Operation of cinema Halls, swimming pools, Entertainment Park, theatres, bars, auditorium, Assembly halls and similar recreational places are not allowed.

Educational Institutions, training centres and coaching classes (tuitions) barring online/ distance learning.

The order also prohibits operation of all forms of contact sports activities.

Any gathering and congregation including social, political, entertainment academic, cultural and religious functions is prohibited.

Every individual moving in public and workplaces should wear a face mask, should not consume liquor, pan, gutka, tobacco and spit in public places and to strictly adhere to the various protocols and advisories of the Government.

Incoming additional workforce from outside the District except for  highly skilled, specialized professionals and technicians regulated by instruction of the Political Department, Government of Meghalaya followed SOPs of Labour Department and Health protocols issued by the Health and Family Welfare department with due permission given on submission of undertaking to the Deputy Labour Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai.

In addition, the District Magistrate has directed the public to strictly follow social distancing and maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet or 2 metres in public places. Funeral and Last rites related gatherings should not to exceed 20 (twenty).

Wedding ceremonies will be allowed in religious places of worship and the number of guests shall not exceed one-third of the seating capacity or 50 (fifty) guests, whichever is less inclusive of the host and the Authority/s presiding over the wedding. However, wedding reception is suspended, till further orders.

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years in public places are advised to stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes.

All activities permitted vide Order No. POL75/2020/Ptl/56, Dt. 1.7.2020.
Supply chains/wholesalers and retailers, outlets, shops, services and other establishments in the whole of West Jaintia Hills District will be allowed to open from 9.00 AM to 7.00 PM. However, weekly markets like Musiang, Pynkat, Khyllaw and Pynsin at Iawmusiang, Jowai and Iawpynsin, Wahiajer respectively, odd and even numbers shall apply.

All Permitted shops, Services, establishments, agricultural industrial and commercial activities operating and functioning are to strictly adhere to the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and National Directives of Government for COVID-19 Management in Public Places and Work Places including mandatory compliance to the Advisories of Health and Family Welfare Department, without fail and the owners and employers are to  make sure that all their employees install the  Aarogya Setu Application and Behavioral Change Management App.

The District Magistrate has also directed the residents of the District to install Aarogya Setu Application and Behavioural Change Management App and to regularly update health status on the apps for containment of COVID-19 pandemic.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on preventive measures to contain spread of COVID-19 in Office both Public and private shall be duly complied.  

Yoga institutes and Gymnasiums are allowed to operate with permission from the Deputy Commissioner and are to duly comply with SOP issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. 

Cyber café are allowed to resumed on permission obtained from the Deputy Commissioner and to duly comply with the SOPs issued by Information Technology and Communication Department, Government of Meghalaya

Food outlets,Dhabas Tea Stalls located along the National Highway are allowed to opened subject to strict compliance to the SOP issued by the Health and Family welfare. However, food outlets, Dhabas  and tea stalls in containment zone shall remain closed.

Opening of Football training  for sports club, Association from 12th September, 2020 subject to strict compliance with the SOP issued by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya with prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner.

The order has also permitted 50 % Public Transport and private vehicles to operate within the District on rotation basis. Vehicles with odd numbers are allowed to ply on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and vehicles with even numbers on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Sunday only private vehicles both odd and even are allowed to ply on road. 

The order has further stated that maximum number of persons allowed to be carried by different categories of public and private transport in the District is as follows: For Bus total seating capacity  is 50% , SUV including Sumo and Maxi Cab  4 persons excluding driver, Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) 2 persons excluding the driver,  Auto-rickshaw 1 (One) person excluding the driver,  Two-wheeler  1 (One) pillion rider restricted only to female or child below the age of 12 years of the same household.

However, all Government Vehicles (both State and Central), Private Vehicles of Government Officials on duty with Pass issued by respective heads of Department should be prominently displayed on the windscreen. Vehicles carrying Essential Services as: Medical Teams on duty,  Fire & Emergency duty, Me.ECL, Power Grid and NEEPCO,  Public Works Department (PWD), Public Health Engineering Department (PHE), Food & Civil Supply Department including FCI, Jowai Municipal Board, Postal Service, Telecom, Communications and IT, Press, Print & Electronic Media, Banks an are exempted from the purview of Odd and Even arrangement. Vehicles carrying candidates appearing NEET Exam are also exempted from Ood and even numbers subjected to production of the Admit Card at the checking point..

The Movement of vehicles and other traffic arrangements will be prepared and regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Police, West Jaintia Hills District, Jowai.  Inter-District movement of persons is permitted.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner incharge (Civil) Amlarem Sub-Division, Block Development Officer, Thadlaskein and Laskein and District Heads in West Jaintia Hills District will issue vehicle passes only to their respective Officers and Staff specifically for official purposes and they are to ensure that the passes are utilized strictly for the specific purpose (Official) and any deviation will render the Issuing Authority and the employee/staff pass holder liable to legal action. Name, Address, contact details, timings and purpose of the pass to be clearly reflected.
However, passes for all forms of outward inter-state movement from West Jaintia Hills District will be issued only by the District Magistrate.