‘No mask penalty for those driving alone’

New Delhi: The Centre has categorically informed the Delhi high court it has not penalised non-wearing of masks by those driving alone.

In an affidavit, the government submitted that its ministry of health and family welfare “has not issued any guidelines directing people to wear mask while travelling alone in a vehicle.”

The ministry maintained that health is a state subject and therefore, it had no role to play in the decision in Delhi to challan commuters found without mask even when driving alone.

The ministry’s response came on a petition by a lawyer, Saurabh Sharma, challenging the Rs 500 challan issued to him for not wearing a mask while he was driving alone on September 9. It seeks quashing of the challan, refund of the Rs 500 paid as fine and compensation of Rs 10 lakh for mental harassment. Advocate Joby P Varghese, appearing for Sharma, had pointed out that there is a health ministry notification clarifying that wearing of mask was not compulsory while driving alone in a car, yet people were being prosecuted.

Opposing the plea, the DDMA maintained that its guidelines issued in April and June this year make it mandatory to wear a mask in a public place, and added that the Supreme Court has held that a private vehicle is a public place. The high court will now examine the stand of the ministry.