New Delhi: The Delhi government made it mandatory for those travelling alone in cars to wear masks.
The Delhi court on Tuesday termed it as “absurd” and questioned why the order was not being withdrawn.
“Take instructions,” a division bench of Justices Vipin Sangh and Jasmeet Singh told government counsel Rahul Mehra.
When advocate Mehra mentioned before the court that the order needs to be revisited, he was reminded that it was a government order and that a single bench had only upheld it last year.
“It’s a Delhi government order. Why don’t you withdraw it,” the court observed.
“It is absurd actually. You’re sitting in your own car and you must wear a mask?” the court further said.
A fine of Rs 500 was introduced in 2020 for not wearing face mask while travelling alone in a private car. It was subsequently increased to Rs 2000.
Several petitions were filed challenging the imposition of the fine.
Last April, Justice Prathiba M Singh upheld the government’s decision and said that a person travelling in a vehicle or car, even if alone, could be exposed to the virus in various ways.
