The Delhi High Court directed Delhi Government that person home quarantined for over 14 days, shall have a right to represent to the authorities against such continued quarantine while also directing it to display the helpline number for person in home quarantine on its official website.
A Single judge bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar held that “if any person, who does not display COVID-2019 symptoms, and has not tested positive for the COVID-2019 virus, is home quarantined for over 14 days, he shall have a right to represent to the authorities against such continued quarantine and, if he so represents, the authorities would be bound either to lift the quarantine forthwith or to explain, to the person concerned, as expeditiously as possible and without any undue delay, the reason for keeping him in home quarantine for over 14 days.”
The court gave the direction on a plea filed by Mr. Amit Bhargav who came in contact with a Pizza Delivery boy who was tested positive of the COVID-19 hence, Amit was asked to be home quarantined for 14 days with effect from 14th April 2020. Whereas, he came in contact with the Pizza delivery boy on 24th March 2020 and the period of 14 days, reckoned therefrom, expired on or around 7th April 2020.
Advocate Ms. Trehan, appearing for Mr. Amit Bhargav informed the court that the regulations of the Delhi Government “…unmistakeably, justify placing a person in quarantine only for a period of 14 days from the date on which the person came in contact with someone who was found to be COVID-2019 positive.”
The Court also stated that “…all notices, placing persons under home quarantine, have necessarily to indicate the period of home quarantine, as well as the date from which it is to commence.”
Justice Shankar has also directed the Delhi Government to display the helpline number for person in home quarantine on the official website of the Delhi Government.
-India Legal Bureau