Srinagar: District magistrate Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Friday ordered for the extension of restrictions in the district till May-3 keeping in view the prevailing situations because of the Corona Virus pandemic.

Issuing an order under Section 144 of CrPC Choudhary has ordered that there shall be complete restrictions on public movement and operation of business and other establishments in the district all through this extended period.

The order states that in view of the situation in the district with various areas notified as COVID-19 containment or red zones which add up to large part of the district it is imperative that the ongoing restrictions remain enforced until required.

“The order is in line with the revised lockdown guidelines in the MHA Government of India order issued on April 15 which excludes areas notified as COVID-19 containment zones from exemptions that it allows after April 20,” he said in an order.

It states that the order is also as per instructions of the J&K State Executive Committee (SEC) which has issued a detailed SOP to follow in the COVID-19 red zones.
The order instructs heads of departments to ensure no misuse of service passes issued to their staff for the purpose of delivering services.

It further states that while healthcare officers and frontline workers associated with COVID-19 containment efforts in the district have been provided passes their movement as and when required will be allowed on production of valid IDs along with duty slips issued to them by their concerned HODs.

“All movement passes issued from the office of the District Magistrate from March 20 will continue to remain valid till May 3,” he said.
Meanwhile, order said that the violations of instructions as given in this order will attract strict proceedings and action under Section 188 of IPC and Section 51 of NDMA.