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The Supreme Court has held that affixing posters by State government authorities outside the homes of Covid-19 patients, divulging their identities, is not required unless directed by a competent authority, reported ANI.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, while disapproving the action, said there is no reason for the government authorities to affix home isolation posters outside COVID-19 patients’ homes.
The bench directed that posters can be affixed by States and Union Territories only when competent authorities under the Disaster Management Act issue specific directions for it.
The court was hearing a public suit filed by advocate Kush Kalra challenging the affixing of posters outside the homes of Covid-19 patients as a mark of identification, claiming it discloses the identity of patients in a gross violation of their fundamental right to privacy.
Earlier, the Central government had said that there are no guidelines from the Centre to affix posters outside Covid-19 patients’ homes. Justice MR Shah, during the hearing, had said that hard reality is different and these people are being treated as untouchables.
The plea had sought directions to ensure such disclosure of names does not take place and quashing of the executive orders of the States and Union Territories that allow affixing of posters outside homes of the COVID-19 patients.
