Is it Mandatory to wear a Mask While driving Car Alone?, Delhi

 

Image by Orna Wachman from Pixabay

Amid skyrocketing surge in Covid cases in the National Capital of Delhi and back to back mass spreading of the pandemic wave across India. The honorable High court of Delhi While hearing a case of penalty on Wednesday for not wearing mask while driving alone in the car Observed some important points ......has said  that "A person driving alone in his Personal vehicle will be required to wear a mask. the court said that the mask acts as a protective shield as it protects the person who stands around it as well as the person who applies the mask." The court also said that a car or any other private vehicle would be considered a 'Public Place'. The court has also said that if there is an elderly person in one's house, then he is encouraged to wear the mask inside the house as well. 

While pronouncing the order Justice Pratibha M Singh stated that even if the person is alone in the car, he should not have objections in applying the mask because the protection is his own by applying a mask.

 She also said, that it is immaterial whether the person is vaccinated or not, it is compulsory for everyone to apply the mask. Judge Prathiba M Singh also refused to intervene to circumvent the Delhi government's decision not to wear masks while driving a private car alone. It states that a vehicle in the possession of a person will also constitute a public place. The Hon'ble Court also explained that "When a car stops at a traffic signal, driver often has to roll down their window. The coronavirus is so contagious that even in that very time,it has high potential to be spread around".

The single judge bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh also dismissed all  the petitions challenging the fines imposed on the people not wearing masks while driving alone in their private cars.

During the proceedings, the ministry of health and family welfare, as submitted by advocate Farman Ali Magray, had told the court that it had not issued any instructions that people should be asked to wear masks when they were alone. The ministry said that health is a state subject and the Delhi government has to decide on it. the Delhi government told the court that wearing a mask while driving an official or personal vehicle was made mandatory through an office order in April last year and remained in force.