Today, Delhi High Court announced that a mask is compulsory even if a person is driving alone in a car, terming any vehicle is a “public place” where Covid rules apply.
Further mentioning that a mask is a “suraksha kavach (safety armour)” for the person wearing it and those around.
Wearing Mask While Driving
The decision was given by Judge Pratibha M Singh against a hearing where petitioners who had challenged fines for not wearing a mask while driving alone.
The judge said, “even if you are alone in the car, why object to wearing a mask? It is for your own safety,”.
Further adding, “the pandemic crisis has increased. Whether a person is vaccinated or not, they should wear masks.”
She said this was the least anyone could do to be safe against Covid, considering the advice of scientists and governments worldwide.
Usually, drivers often have to roll down their windows when a car stops at a traffic signal.
Challenging The Fine
Earlier the court was approached by Lawyer Saurabh Sharma and two other petitioners who challenged a ? 500 fine.
Which they were forced to pay while driving alone without a mask and was stopped by the Delhi Police.
The Union Health Ministry had informed the High Court about not having any rule regarding a lone driver to wear a mask, during the hearing.
But they asserted that every state had the right to make its own rules and enforce them.
Last year, Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government argued in favor of masks for all in private or public vehicles and had also passed such an order in April.
Apart from this, the other two petitioners had challenged Rs 500 fines they were charged and even asked for compensation for “mental harassment”.
This news comes after a day Delhi reported 5,100 coronavirus cases in the biggest single-day Covid figure this year.
In the last 24 hours, over 1.15 lakh new Covid cases have been recorded across the country for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.
It seems to be a grim milestone in the second wave of infections.
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