BMC rolls back relaxations imposed during lockdown till May 17

MUMBAI: With the start of the third phase of the nationwide lockdown, the people in Mumbai were seen flouting lockdown rules and basic social distancing norms when they fled to public places and shops. Seeing this and considering the constant rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on May 5, 2020, decided to withdraw the relaxations provided by the central government. The BMC ordered that only essential services and groceries, medical stores and chemist shops will be allowed to remain open in Mumbai.

This came after people rushed to liquor shops and other public places when the government announced that during the lockdown starting from May 3 till May 17, liquor shops and other stand-alone shops not in shopping complexes were allowed to open. The BMC sighted the potential explosion in the number of cases due to flouting of social distancing norms as the reason for rolling back the relaxations.

The Mumbai Police had already imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which bans the assembly of four or more people, in the city till May 17. According to the order, “movement of one or more persons for all non-essential services, except for medical reasons, will be prohibited between 8 PM-7 AM”. Further, those found violating the rules imposed by the state government will be persecuted under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).