Punjab and Haryana High Court Cancels Over 1,000 Lockdown FIRs
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made a significant decision to cancel more than 1,000 First Information Reports (FIRs) that were filed against individuals for violating lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. These FIRs were registered under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) between March 2020 and March 2022.
The court’s order affects 1,112 FIRs in total, with 859 in Punjab, 169 in Haryana, and 84 in Chandigarh. This decision provides relief to those who were charged for leaving their homes during the lockdown period.
The High Court noted that the pandemic period has ended, and the presence of these cases is impacting the court’s schedule. The nationwide lockdown was initially announced by the Indian government on March 24, 2020, to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab and Haryana High Court -: This is a court that makes important legal decisions for the states of Punjab and Haryana in India. It is like a big judge that helps solve legal problems in these areas.
FIR -: FIR stands for First Information Report. It is a document that the police create when someone reports a crime. It is the first step in the legal process to investigate a crime.
Lockdown -: A lockdown is when people are asked to stay at home and not go out unless necessary. This was done during the COVID-19 pandemic to stop the virus from spreading.
COVID-19 pandemic -: COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus that spread all over the world, making many people sick. A pandemic is when a disease affects a large number of people across many countries.
Section 188 of the IPC -: Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code is a law that punishes people who do not follow orders given by a public servant, like a police officer, especially during emergencies.
Chandigarh -: Chandigarh is a city in India that serves as the capital for both Punjab and Haryana. It is known for its beautiful architecture and is a union territory, meaning it is directly governed by the central government of India.