Clarifying that there was no move as yet to impose Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in its totality in Pune district to curb the spread of COVID-19, district authorities said on Monday the police would only investigate those people under Section 144 (1) who flouted the administration’s orders.
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“People relate Section 144 with curfew and think its imposition will bring all movement to a standstill. Nothing of that sort has been invoked till now. A purely administrative order under Section 144 (1), which empowers the district police to investigate all those found violating guidelines issued by the administration to check the spread of COVID-19,” Pune District Colelctor Naval Kishore Ram told The Hindu.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar said that while the district administration was mulling imposing Section 144 in Pune, there would be no restriction on people’s movements even if this was implemented.
“We have been discussing with police authorities on the necessity of imposing certain parts of Section 144 of th