Coronavirus: SC says affixing posters outside homes of COVID-19 positive patients not required

Supreme Court said that affixing posters by state Government authorities outside the homes of Covid patients, divulging their identities, is not required unless there is a direction from a competent authority.

In a relief to Covid-19 patients, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court took note of the Centre's guidelines and said that posters and signage should not be affixed by the authorities outside the homes of Covid-19 patients in the country.

However, the apex court, added that such posters can be affixed only in specific cases when the competent authority issues specific directions under the Disaster Management Act.
 

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said this in its verdict on a plea seeking directions to do away with the practice of pasting posters outside the homes of those infected by the coronavirus.

The bench, also comprising Justices RS Reddy and MR Shah, disposed of the plea, saying the Centre has already issued guidelines, and therefore, states and union territories should not affix such posters.

The Centre had earlier told the top court that its guidelines do not contain any instructions regarding affixing posters and signage outside the homes of COVID-19 patients, and there cannot be any stigma attached to it.

With 32,080 new Covid infections, total cases have risen to 97,35,850. 402 new deaths have taken the toll to 1,41,360 on Wednesday. Active cases now stand at 3,78,909. Total discharged cases are 92,15,581 with 36,635 new recoveries reported in the last 24 hours.