The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday urged the State government to draw up a policy to impose community service as a penalty on those found violating COVID-19 safety norms. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice J.B. Pardiwala issued the direction to the state government on a petition filed by an advocate Vishal Avtani.

The State Government has been asked to submit its report on steps taken in this regard before 24th December. Our Ahmedabad correspondent Yogesh Pandya reports that Gujarat High Court came down heavily on the state government for the people not following the compulsory mask and social distancing norms.

Gujarat High Court has asked the state government to frame the policy and issue suitable notification to make the community service compulsory for such offenders.

According to the court directives, the non-medical community service will be required to be done at a COVID care center operated by local authorities. The offender is expected to devote 4 to 6 hours a day for a period ranging from 5 to15 days towards community service. This will be in addition to the fines imposed for violation of the COVID-19 safety protocol. The High Court observed that such steps to enforce the compulsory wearing mask will help in containing the spread of Covid19.