Disseminate info, book lockdown violators under IPC, DM Act, Home Secretary tells states

NEW DELHI: The home secretary on Thursday requested the states to widely circulate information on penal provisions laid down under the Disaster Management Act as well as IPC for violation of lockdown guidelines and asked the law enforcement agencies to take suitable action under these provisions.

The latest communication from Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to the chief secretaries comes a day after he asked the states/UTs to implement the lockdown measures issued by MHA in exercise of powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, “in letter and spirit, without allowing any exception”.

Reminding the states of Supreme Court’s recent observation that it “trusts and expects that all state governments, public authorities and citizens of this country will faithfully comply with directives, advisories and orders issued