TAMIL NADU

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

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

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

2021

[Price: Rs. 2.40 Paise.

No.186]

CHENNAI, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

Panguni 18, Saarvari, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2052

Part II—Section 2

Notiﬁ cations or Orders of interest to a Section of the public

issued by Secretariat Departments.

NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT

II-2 Ex. (186)

[ 1 ]

REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

COVID-19 – EXTENDING RESTRICTIONS IN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS OF THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU

TILL 24:00 HRS OF 30.4.2021 WITH GUIDELINES AND RELAXATIONS UNDER THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT

ACT, 2005

[G.O. Ms. No. 339, Revenue and Disaster Management (D.M-IV), 31st March 2021,

ðƒ°Q 18, ê£˜õK, F¼õœÀõ˜ Ý‡´-2052.]

No. II(2)/REVDM/238(a)/2021.

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 Aﬀ airs, State-wide lockdown was extended from time

to time and lastly extended till 24:00 hrs of 31.03.2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in GO.Ms.No.318,

Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, dated 28.02.2021 with various relaxations and certain restrictions.

2. The Government of India, Ministry of Home Aﬀ airs, in its order twenty one read above directs that guidelines

for surveillance, containment and caution, issued vide Ministry of Home Aﬀ airs’ Order of even number dated 23.03.2021,

will remain in force upto 30.4.2021.

3. In pursuant of the above orders of the Ministry of Home Aﬀ airs, Government of India, the Additional Chief

Secretary/Commissioner of Revenue Administration has stated that necessary orders may be issued by the Government

for the extension of the lockdown throughout the State till 24:00 hrs of 30.04.2021 under the Disaster Management Act,

2005 in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 eﬀ ectively.

4. Now, therefore the Government of Tamil Nadu hereby order to extend the State-wide lockdown till 24:00 hrs

of 30.4.2021 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.,

G.O.Ms.No.396, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM II), Department, dated 31.7.2020., G.O.Ms.No.447, Revenue and

Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, dated 31.08.2020., G.O.Ms.No.541, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV)

Department, dated 30.09.2020., G.O.Ms.No.613, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, dated 31.10.2020.,

G.O.Ms.No.673, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, dated 30.11.2020., G.O.Ms.No.820, Revenue

and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, dated 31.12.2020., G.O.Ms.No.84, Revenue and Disaster Management

(DM-IV) Department, dated 31.1.2021.,G.O.Ms.No.318, Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, dated

28.2.2021 and amendments issued thereon with the existing restrictions and relaxations:

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

The following activity shall continue to remain prohibited until further orders, during the lockdown

period throughout the State till 24:00 hrs of 30.4.2021.

(i) All international air travel of passengers, except for purposes as permitted by MHA remain prohibited.

II. Eﬀ ective enforcement of the Test-Track-Treat protocol

(a) Test

1. With sustained eﬀ ort, the capacity of total daily tests that can be conducted across the State has gone up

substantially. There is need to ensure that the tests being conducted are uniformly distributed across all

districts, with adequate testing to be done in districts reporting higher number of cases. The proportion of

RT-PCR tests in the total mix is to be scaled up, on best eﬀ ort basis, to 70% or more. Districts, where

the proportion of RT-PCR tests is less, should rapidly increase testing through this protocol, to reach the

prescribed level.

(b) Track

1. The new positive cases detected as a result of intensive testing need to be isolated/ quarantined at the

earliest; and, their contacts have to be traced at the earliest, and similarly isolated/ quarantined. Containment

Zones, accordingly, have to be demarcated, and prescribed containment measures implemented within such

Zones.

2. Eﬀ ective demarcation of Containment Zones, in vulnerable and high incidence areas, is key to breaking

the chain of transmission and controlling the spread of the virus. Containment Zones shall be carefully

demarcated by the district authorities, at the micro level, taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed

by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in this regard. The list of Containment Zones will

be notiﬁ ed on the websites.

3. Within the demarcated Containment Zones, containment measures, as prescribed by MoHFW, shall be

scrupulously followed, as under:

Only essential activities shall be allowed in the Containment Zones.

ii.

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.

iii. There shall be intensive house-to-house surveillance by surveillance teams formed for the purpose.

iv. Testing shall be carried out as per prescribed protocol.

Listing of contacts shall be carried out in respect of all persons found positive, along with their tracking,

identiﬁ cation, quarantine and follow up of contacts for 14 days (80% of contacts to be traced in

72 hours).

vi. Surveillance for ILI/ SARI cases shall be carried out in health facilities or outreach mobile units or

through fever clinics in buﬀ er zones.

vii. It shall be the responsibility of local district, police and municipal authorities to ensure that the prescribed

Containment measures are strictly followed.

(c)Treat

1. Quick isolation of COVID-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment facilities/ home (subject to fulﬁ lling the

home isolation guidelines).

2. Clinical interventions, as prescribed, shall be administered. Capacity building of health workers and

professionals shall be an ongoing exercise, to be conducted at all levels, with a view to ensure that the

prescribed clinical management protocol is understood clearly and administered accordingly.

3. Adequate availability of COVID dedicated health and logistics (including ambulatory) infrastructure, based

on their assessment of the case trajectory shall be ensured.

4. Eﬀ ective infection prevention and control practices shall be followed in treatment facilities and by health

care workers and professionals.

III.

COVID appropriate behaviour

1. The District Administrations shall take all necessary measures to promote COVID-19 appropriate behavior.

Strict enforcement of wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing must be ensured.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

2. Wearing of face masks is an essential preventive measure. In order to enforce this core requirement, the

District Administrations may consider administrative actions, including imposition of appropriate ﬁ nes, on

persons not wearing face masks in public and work spaces.

3. Observance of social distancing in crowded places, especially in markets, weekly bazaars and public

transport, is also critical for containing the spread of the infection. SOP issued by Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare (MoHFW) to regulate crowds in market places, shall be strictly enforced by the District

Administrations.

4. SOPs for regulating travel in aircrafts, trains and metro rails are already in place, which shall be strictly

enforced. Necessary guidelines for regulating travel in other modes of public transport, e.g., buses, boats

etc., have already been issued and the District Administrations shall ensure that SOPs are strictly complied

with.

5. The National Directives for COVID-19 Management, as speciﬁ ed in Annexure I, shall be strictly followed

throughout the country.

IV. Strict adherence to the prescribed SOPs

1. All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones and SOPs have been prescribed for various

activities. These include: movement by passenger trains; air travel; metro trains; schools; higher educational

institutions; hotels and restaurants; shopping malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks; yoga centres and

gymnasiums; exhibitions, assemblies and congregations, etc.

2. The SOPs, as updated from time to time, shall be strictly enforced by the authorities concerned, who shall

be responsible for their strict observance.

Vaccination

Government of India has launched the world's largest vaccination drive against COVID- 19. The National

Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) provides guidance on prioritization of

population groups, procurement & inventory management, and vaccine selection delivery and tracking. The

recommendations of NEGVAC are considered and ﬁ nalized by the Central Government.

Vaccination against COVID-19, in the present scenario, is critical to break the chain of transmission.

Therefore, the District Administrations shall rapidly step up the pace of vaccination, to cover all priority

groups, as recommended by NEGVAC and approved by the Central Government, urgently and in an

expeditious manner.

VI. Local restrictions

Based on their assessment of the situation, local restrictions at district/ sub-district and city/ ward level,

with a view to contain the spread of COVID- 19 shall be imposed.

VII. 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 take necessary precautions.

VIII. Use of Aarogya Setu

Use of Aarogya Setu may continue on best eﬀ ort basis on compatible

mobile phones. This will facilitate

timely provision of medical attention to those individuals who are at risk.

IX. Strict enforcement of the guidelines

All the District Collectors shall strictly enforce the above measures. For the enforcement of social distancing,

the District Administrations, as far as possible, use the provisions of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure

Code (CrPC) of 1973.

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 Section188 of the

IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable. Extracts of these penal provisions are at Annexure II.

RAJEEV RANJAN,

Chief Secretary.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

ANNEXURE I

NATIONAL DIRECTIVES FOR COVID-19 MANAGEMENT

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

Social distancing: Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet (2 gaz ki doori) in public places.

Shops will ensure physical distancing among customers.

Spitting in public places will be punishable with ﬁ ne, as may be prescribed by the State/ UT local authority

in accordance with its laws, rules or regulations.

Additional directives for Work Places

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

Staggering of work/ businesshours will be followed in oﬃ ces, work places, shops, markets and industrial

& commercial establishments.

Screening & hygiene: Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash or sanitizer will be made at all entry

points and of hand wash or sanitizer at exit points and common areas.

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.

8. Social distancing: All persons in charge of work places will ensure adequate distance between workers

and other staﬀ .

ANNEXURE-II

SECTION 51 TO 60 OF THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005

Oﬀ ences 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.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

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. Oﬀ ences by Departments of the Government.-(1) Where an oﬀ ence 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 oﬀ ence and shall

be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless he proves that the oﬀ ence was committed without

his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such oﬀ ence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an oﬀ ence under this Act has been committed

by a Department of the Government and it is proved that the oﬀ ence 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 oﬀ ence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

56. Failure of oﬃ cer 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. Oﬀ ence by companies.—(1) Where an oﬀ ence under this Act has been committed by a company or body

corporate, every person who at the time the oﬀ ence 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 oﬀ ence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised due diligence to prevent

the commission of such oﬀ ence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an oﬀ ence under this Act has been committed

by a company, and it is proved that the oﬀ ence 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 oﬀ ence 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 oﬀ ences 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 oﬀ ences.—No court shall take cognizance of an oﬀ ence 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

oﬀ ence 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.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

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 aﬀ ray, 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 oﬀ ender 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 oﬀ ence deﬁ ned in this section.

RAJEEV RANJAN,

Chief Secretary.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, CHENNAI

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU