REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT - COVID-19 – EXTENDING RESTRICTIONS IN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS OF THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

© GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU 2020

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

[Price: Rs. 2.40 Paise.

No. 348] CHENNAI, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020 Aavani 15, Saarvari, Thiruvalluvar Aandu-2051

Part II—Section 2

Notifications or Orders of interest to a Section of the public

issued by Secretariat Departments.

NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT

REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTDEPARTMENT

REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

COVID-19 – EXTENDING RESTRICTIONS IN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS OF THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU TILL 24:00 HRS OF 30-09-2020 WITH GUIDELINES AND RELAXATIONS UNDER THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005.

[G.O. Ms. No. 447, Revenue and Disaster Management [D.M.IV], 31st August 2020,

ஆவணி 15, சார்வரி, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2051.]

No. II(2)/REVDM/510(i)/2020.

WHEREAS on considering the recommendations of the expert team of Doctors and Public Health Specialists and based on the directives of Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, State-wide lockdown was extended from time to time and lastly extended till 24:00 hrs of 31-08-2020 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in GO.Ms.No.396, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-II) Department, dated 31-07-2020 with various relaxations and certain restrictions.

2. Now, therefore the Government of Tamil Nadu based on the review meetings held on various dates, particularly views expressed by the District Collectors in the meeting held on 29-08-2020 through Video Conference, based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department on Exit Strategy and views expressed by the Medical Experts and Public Health Committee during the discussion with the Hon'ble Chief Minister on 29-08-2020 and in consultation with the Senior Ministers hereby order to extend the State-wide lockdown till 24:00 hrs of 30-09-2020 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 with various relaxations ordered in G.O. Ms.No.217, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM II), Department, dated 3-5-2020, G.O.Ms.No.245, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM II), Department, dated 18-5-2020, G.O.Ms.No.324, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM II), Department, dated 30-6-2020 and G.O.Ms.No.396, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM II), Department, dated 31-7-2020 amendments issued thereon with the existing restrictions and following further guidelines and relaxations.

I. The following activities shall continue to remain prohibited until further orders, during the lockdown

period throughout the State till 24:00 hrs of 30.09.2020.

i. Schools, colleges, research institutions and other educational / coaching institutions etc. will remain closed. Online / distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.

II-2 Ex. (348)

[ 1 ]2 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY ii. All Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment/amusement parks, theatres, auditoriums, assembly halls, Beaches, Zoos, Museums, Tourist places and similar places will remain closed.

iii. All international air travel of passengers, except for purposes as permitted by MHA.

iv. Religious congregations, all social / political / sports / entertainment / academic / cultural / religious functions / other gatherings and large congregations.

Further, the following restrictions shall remain in force in respect of marriages, funerals:-

Restrictions for Marriages and Funerals:-

i. Marriage related gathering: Number of guests not to exceed 50.

ii. Funeral/last rites related gathering: Number of persons not to exceed 20.

II. The following activities shall be allowed in addition to the existing permitted activities from 00 hrs of 01-09-2020

throughout the State (Except in containment zones):

i. Movement of General Public is permitted throughout the State of Tamil Nadu (between the districts) without E-Pass. However, the present e-pass system would continue to be in force for the persons who are coming from foreign countries and from other States to Tamil Nadu by Air, Rail and other Vehicles and auto generated on-line e-pass will be issued to all the applicants immediately who apply for e-pass with the details of Aadhar Card, Travel Ticket, Telephone / Mobile Nos. for their travel from foreign countries and other states to Tamil Nadu.

ii. All religious places / places of worship across the State shall be allowed for public worship. The Standard Operating Procedure for this will be released by the Government. Further, the maximum number of devotees permitted for darshan per day shall be fi xed and limited number of persons only shall be permitted inside the religious places/ places of worship and Sanctum Santorum at a single point of time for dharshan. Public worship will be allowed in religious places/places of worship only upto 8.00 P.M.

iii. Operation of both Public and Private Bus Transport within the District and Metropolitan Bus Services in Greater Chennai shall be permitted from 1-9-2020 following the Standard Operating Procedures.

iv. Metro Rail Services are permitted in Greater Chennai from 7-9-2020 following the Standard Operating Procedures to be issued.

v. Shopping Malls, all showrooms and big format stores throughout the State are permitted to operate with 100% staff strength and with air conditioning facility by following the guidelines issued by Government of India for air conditioning and ventilation and the Standard Operating Procedures. However, cinema theatres in Shopping Malls would remain closed.

vi. All shops across the State including Chennai shall be permitted to operate till 8.00 P.M.

vii. Following the Standard Operating Procedures already issued by Government, Restaurants and Tea Shops are permitted to function from 6.00 A.M. to 8.00 P.M. and take away (parcel food) will be permitted upto 9.00 P.M. viii. All Industries, Private Offices, Export Oriented Units and IT/ITEs across the State including Chennai shall be permitted to function with 100% strength. However, IT / ITEs companies should encourage their employees to work from home other than those whose services are inevitable.

ix. Hotels, Resorts, Recreation Clubs and other hospitality services like Clubs are permitted to function after

duly following the Standard Operating Procedures.

x. Following the Standard Operating Procedures, Public Parks and Play Grounds are permitted to open up for exercise and all kinds of sports practice. However, spectators shall not be permitted in the play grounds.

xi. Following the Standard Operating Procedures, YOGA training Centres are permitted to operate.

xii. Skill and Industrial Training Institutes shall be permitted to function from 21-9-2020 by following the Standard Operating Procedures.

xiii. Government Offices now functioning with 50% strength are permitted to function with 100% strength from 1-9-2020. However, Covid-19 Containment Officer (Nodal Officer) may be nominated in Private and Government Offi ces, Industries and other establishments in order to ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures are duly followed in the offi ces, staff with infection are not permitted to attend offi ce and staff with symptoms are subjected to test immediately.

xiv. Banks and other related institutions are permitted to function with 100% strength.

xv. To restrict the tourists from outstation, travelling to Nilgiris District and all other hill stations like Kodaikanal and Yercaud, tourists should apply for e-pass from the respective District Collectors and permission should be obtained.

xvi. Shooting of films relating to Cinema Industry is permitted following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with a condition that only 75 persons should be allowed to work at a single point of time. However, spectators shall not be allowed while shooting of fi lms.

xvii. Enforcement of Complete Lock Down on Sundays stands cancelled from the month of September, 2020.

xviii. Inter State Rail Transport will be permitted in the authorised routes. However, Passenger Rail Transport within the State remains prohibited till 15-09-2020 and a decision would be taken for operating the Passenger Rail Transport within State after 15-09-2020 based on the situation prevailing.

xix. Fresh Protocol for Quarantine and Testing of foreign and domestic travelers traveling by Air and travelers from other States by Train will be issued.

xx. Now, 50 Flights from other States shall be permitted to land in Chennai Airport daily as against 25 Flights which were permitted earlier. Further, the permission already granted for landing of fl ights at Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Salem Airports shall continue to be in force.

III. Lockdown limited to Containment Zones

a. Lockdown shall continue to remain in force in the Containment Zones till 30th September, 2020.

b. Containment Zones shall be demarcated by the District Authorities at micro level after taking into consideration the guidelines of MoHFW with the objective of effectively breaking the chain of transmission. Strict containment measures will be enforced in these containment zones and only essential activities will be allowed. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services. In the Containment Zones, there shall be intensive contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and other clinical interventions, as required. Guidelines of MoHWF shall be effectively implemented for the above purpose.

c. These Containment Zones will be notifi ed on the websites by the respective District Collectors and by the State and information will be shared with MoHFW.

IV. Movement of persons with SOPs

Movement by passenger trains; domestic passenger air travel; movement of persons on Vande Bharat and Air Transport Bubble fl ights; and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per SOPs issued.

V. Protection of vulnerable persons

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes.

VI. Use of Aarogya Setu

a. Aarogya Setu enables early identifi cation of potential risk of infection, and thus acts as a shield for individuals and the community.

b. With a view to ensuring safety in offi ces and work places, employers on best effort basis should ensure that Aarogya Setu is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones.

c. District authorities may advise individuals to install the Aarogya Setu application on compatible mobile phones and regularly update their health status on the app. This will facilitate timely provision of medical attention to those individuals who are at risk.

VII National Directives for COVID-19 Management

1. Face coverings: Wearing of face cover is compulsory in public places; in workplaces; and during transport.

2. Social distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet in public places. Shops will ensure physi- cal distancing among customers.

3. Gatherings: Large public gatherings/congregations continue to remain prohibited. Marriage related gathering: Num- ber of guests not to exceed 50. Funeral/last rites related gathering: Number of persons not to exceed 20 4. Spitting in public places will be punishable with fi ne, as may be prescribed by the State, local authority in accord- ance with its laws, rules or regulations.

5. Consumption of liquor, paan, gutka, tobacco etc. in public places is prohibited.

Additional Directives for work places

6. Work from home (WfH): As far as possible, the practice of WfH should be followed.

7. Staggering of work/ business hours shall be followed in offi ces, work places, shops, markets and industrial & commercial establishments.

8. Screening & hygiene: Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitizer will be made at all entry point and of handwash or sanitizer at exit points and common areas.

9. Frequent sanitization of entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., will be ensured, including between shifts.

10. Social distancing: All persons in charge of work places will ensure adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc.

VIII. General

i. Gathering of more than 5 persons at a time in the public places will remain prohibited under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.

ii. No activity will be permitted in the Containment Zones across the State, during the lockdown period.

iii. Wearing of Mask is compulsory and it would be strictly enforced. Repeated washing hands with soap-sanitizers and social distancing norms should be strictly enforced for the permitted activities.

IX. Penal provisions

Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable. Extracts of these penal provisions are at Annexure I.

Annexure I

Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005

Offences and Penalties for Violation

51. Punishment for obstruction, etc.-—Whoever, without reasonable cause--

(a) obstructs any offi cer or employee of the Central Government or the State Government, or a person authorised by the National Authority or State Authority or District Authority in the discharge of his functions under this Act; or (b) refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government or the State Government or the National Executive Committee or the State Executive Committee or the District Authority under this Act, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fi ne, or with both, and if such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or imminent danger thereof, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.

52. Punishment for false claim.—Whoever knowingly makes a claim which he knows or has reason to believe to be false for obtaining any relief, assistance, repair, reconstruction or other benefi ts consequent to disaster from any offi cer of the Central Government, the State Government, the National Authority, the State Authority or the District Authority, shall, on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, and also with fi ne.

53. Punishment for misappropriation of money or materials, etc.-—Whoever, being entrusted with any money or materials, or otherwise being, in custody of, or dominion over, any money or goods, meant for providing relief in any threatening disaster situation or disaster, misappropriates or appropriates for his own use or disposes of such money or materials or any part thereof or wilfully compels any other person so to do, shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, and also with fi ne.

54. Punishment for false warning. Whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fi ne.

55. Offences by Departments of the Government.-(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by any Department of the Government, the head of the Department shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a Department of the Government and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any offi cer, other than the head of the Department, such offi cer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

56. Failure of officer in duty or his connivance at the contravention of the provisions of this Act.-Any offi cer, on whom any duty has been imposed by or under this Act and who ceases or refuses to perform or withdraws himself from the duties of his offi ce shall, unless he has obtained the express written permission of his offi cial superior or has other lawful excuse for so doing, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fi ne.

57. Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisitioning. If any person contravenes any order made under section 65, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fi ne or with both.

58. Offence by companies.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company or body corporate, every person who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company, for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, and it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other offi cer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other offi cer shall also, be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Explanation. For the purpose of this section.

(a) "company" means anybody corporate and includes a fi rm or other association of individuals; and (b) "director", in relation to a fi rm, means a partner in the fi rm.

59. Previous sanction for prosecution.—No prosecution for offences punishable under Sections 55 and 56 shall be instituted except with the previous sanction of the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, or of any offi cer authorised in this behalf, by general or special order, by such Government

60. Cognizance of offences.—No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except on a complaint made by—

(a) the National Authority, the State Authority, the Central Government, the State Government, the District Authority or any other authority or offi cer authorised in this behalf by that Authority or Government, as the case may be; or (b) any person who has given notice of not less than thirty days in the manner prescribed, of the alleged offence and his intention to make a complaint to the National Authority, the State Authority, the Central Government, the State Government, the District Authority or any other authority or offi cer authorised as aforesaid.

2. Section 188 in the Indian Penal Code, 1860

Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.—Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction, shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or injury, to any person lawfully employed, be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fi ne which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both; and if such disobedience causes or trends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fi ne which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

Explanation: It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or contemplate his disobedience as likely to produce harm. It is suffi cient that he knows of the order which he disobeys, and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.

Illustration: An order is promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, directing that a religious procession shall not pass down a certain street. 'A' knowingly disobeys the order, and thereby causes danger of riot. 'A' has committed the offence defi ned in this section.

K. SHANMUGAM, Chief Secretary.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, CHENNAI ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU