MHA’s new guidelines say strict ban on sale of ‘gutka, tobacco and alcohol’

April 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in his address to the nation on Tuesday that MHA will list out detailed guidelines that will set the ground rules for relaxation and other important issues between April 15 to May 3. The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday released fresh guidelines for the period of extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3.

The MHA guidelines specifies that spitting in public spaces will be a punishable offence with fine as per the new lockdown guideline issued by the ministry to mitigate the spread of COVID19 pandemic. There is a strict ban on sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco and “spitting should be strictly prohibited” during the new lockdown period extended up to 3rd May, the revised guidelines say.

Assam, Meghalaya and Haryana had, however, allowed the sale of alcohol in the states, but going by the central government’s guidelines, it looks like the shops will shut again.

In addition, it is now mandatory to use home-made face covers at work places and in public places, strong hygiene and health care measures like provision of sanitisers, staggered shifts, access control, thermal screening and imposing fines for spitting will be imposed for violation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday directed states and union territories to book under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 people who violate the lockdown or make false claims.