PIL Filed In Orissa High Court Against Night Curfew Period In Ganjam

Cuttack: A PIL has been filed at Orissa High Court challenging Ganjam collector’s order on night curfew from 4 pm to 5 am next day.

The petition, filed by Surendra Panigrahi, president of Bharatiya Bikash Parishad (BBP), stated that the district collector issued an order on July 31 mentioning that the functioning of shops and movement of people are allowed from 5 am to 4 pm and the night curfew will remain in force from 4 pm to 5 am next day.

Claiming that the collector violated its power, the petition said when the government of India issued COVID guidelines and directed to follow the instructions strictly and Supreme Court also passed a judgment that the COVID guidelines should be followed strictly without dilution, they stated that the collector of the district has no independent power to issue any direction except in containment area or the area under Section 144.

“When the government of Odisha has imposed night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am next day, the Ganjam collector violating the said guidelines and usurping the power not vested with it, has imposed un-genuine and unreasonable restriction on non-essential services from 4 pm to 5 am of the next day which is totally illegal and not sustainable in the eye of law,” the petition said.

The petitioner appealed to the high court to issue a show-cause notice to the collector as to why its order on the night curfew in the district should not be declared illegal and withdrawn.

The petitioner has also prayed to the court to issue the notice principal secretary, Home Ministry; Chief Secretary to Odisha government; chairman, State Disaster Management Authority; principal secretary, Family and Health Welfare department and Special Relief Commissioner.