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As the coronavirus threat looms over humanity, governments and authorities are trying to explore every possible preventive measure including the imposition of Section 144 to ensure that people practise social distancing and refrain from gathering in large numbers.
As of Thursday morning, 19 March, India has recorded 169 confirmed cases of coronavirus, as the global death toll crosses 8,000.
As the number of cases rose in Maharashtra, Section 144 was imposed in Nagpur and Nashik, earlier this week.
"The order shall remain in force till 31 March," Ravindra Kadam, Joint Commissioner of Police, Nagpur had told PTI.
On 16 March, Mumbai police prohibited group tours till 31 March under Section 144.
The Mumbai Police, however, allowed exceptions in certain situations. It said, "Should anyone, including private tour operators, need to travel under exceptional circumstances, they may do so after seeking permission from the office of the Commissioner of Police, greater Mumbai."
On Wednesday, the Rajasthan government announced Section 144 in the state to ramp up precautions taken due to the novel coronavirus. The prohibitory orders will remain in effect till 31 March in Rajasthan, India Today reported.
After the city reported two fresh cases of Coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the overall number of positive cases to minimum 14, Noida police invoked Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prohibit mass gatherings till 5 April.
The Additional Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Ashutosh Dwivedi said:
On Monday, Authorities imposed section 144 of the CrPC in Uttar Pradesh''s Muzaffarnagar too. According to Additional District Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar, Amit Singh the prohibitory order has been imposed to check the spread of COVID-19.
As the state has registered atleast 3 positive cases of coronavirus, the district magistrate of Anantnag, Bashir Ahmad Dar has banned the gathering of five or more people in any public place.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been imposed in Davangere district till 24 March in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or CrPC can be used to prevent and address urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger. In the case of a pandemic, such use of the Section could prove beneficial, though it has been misused in the past to clamp down on peaceful protests.
Section 144 can be imposed for up to two months. However, if the government decides it is still not safe for the public to gather, the prohibitory orders can be extended six months, but only from the date of the issuance of the section in that particular area.
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