Lt. Governor GC Murmu presided over the meeting authorizing all Deputy Commissioners of UT of Jammu and Kashmir to act against the violators of covid-19 Sop’s set by the government.

All the violators like those not wearing masks would be panelized and will have to pay a penalty.

The government has also decided to penalize the vehicle owners for violating the social distancing norms. “The bus owners violating social distancing norms will have to pay a fine of Rs 3,000, while the penalty amount for cars is Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 for auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers.

“The non-payment of penalty by a violator will attract the proceedings under Section 188 of the IPC, 1960,” a government order said.

The decision of the government to penalize violators comes against the backdrop of a major surge in positive cases and Covid-related deaths in Jammu and Kashmir.

Recently Lt-Governor, while making an appeal to the people, had said the number of Covid-19 cases has increased rapidly in the UT during the last 15 days, particularly after the lifting of restrictions. He had warned that the Covid-19 pandemic would spread rapidly if the guidelines were not followed by people.

Due to the violation of guidelines, hundreds of people are testing positive for coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir. Already there is a lot of pressure on hospitals and very soon there can be shortage of beds to combat growing cases of coronavirus.