The Delhi High Court has termed the Delhi government’s order to apply mask even when a person is driving alone in a private car as “absurd”.
The bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh told the counsel appearing for Delhi government, “You are sitting in your own car and you must wear a mask? It is absurd actually.”
The Delhi High Court asked Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, the counsel appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, as to why the Delhi government is not considering withdrawing this order? And why such an order is still prevailing, the bench added.
The High Court also asked the Delhi government that when the order was absurd and useless, then why they don’t take it back.
Mehra, appearing for the Delhi government, said that it will take a few months for the government to carry out the process, whereas it will be done immediately and expeditiously if the court orders so.
At the same time, Mehra requested the Delhi High Court to quash the order given by a single judge where the court made wearing masks mandatory in private cars. The single judge bench refused to interfere with the decision of Delhi government to impose challans for not wearing a mask even when driving a private car alone, it was very unfortunate, Mehra added.
On this, the High Court made it clear that the court can do this only when the matter comes before it.
The court ordered DDMA to look into all the aspects where similar orders are issued with respect to the Covid-19 restrictions and also asked DDMA to issue fresh orders concerning Covid-19 restrictions as per the medical opinion.