Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla tells states to strictly enforce lockdown measures

Under the DM Act, anyone obstructing a government authorised person from discharging their duties or refuses to comply with government orders could be imprisoned for upto a year or a fine or both

Kamalika Ghosh

April 02, 2020 / 17:44 IST

In the wake of attacks on healthcare workers, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries of states to book people under relevant provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for violating lockdown measures.

"It is requested that for the attention of public authorities and citizens, the penal provisions under the DM (Disaster Management) Act and IPC should be widely circulated and for violations of lockdown measures, action under relevant provisions of DM Act and IPC shall be taken by the law enforcement authorities," the letter said.

Under the DM Act, anyone obstructing a government authorised person from discharging their duties or refuses to comply with government orders could be imprisoned for up to a year or a fine or both.

The various other categories under which offenders can be booked are for false claims, for misappropriation of money and material,and for false warning.

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