The government last year made it mandatory for all citizens to wear a mask in public areas. However, the question remains as to whether or not the lone driver should wear a mask. Due to this, four lawyers in Delhi have been fined Rs 500 for violating the mask rule issued by Delhi Government. These lawyers have filed a petition against this rule in the Delhi HC.

Out of the four lawyers, Saurab Sharma, in the hearing, challenges this law saying that he was forced to pay such a hefty amount. Delhi HC judge refuses their plea and supports the decision of the Delhi Government regarding this. 

Heads of the Resident Welfare Association in Delhi have also spoken against the rule of the High Court. 

President of East Delhi’s joint forum RWA B.S Vohra says that the order of the judiciary is not fair. He says that wearing a mask in a vehicle with closed windows should not be made mandatory. If a person closes the window of his/her car and the person is the vehicle, then that is a private environment. He further says that the court is being hypocritical with regards to the fact that politicians are participants in various rallies and protest not following the norms of social distancing. While, on the other hand, a common man is bearing the brunt of the police officers. 

Sanjay Rana who is the president of Greater Kailash-2 RWA says that the person should only wear the mask if the windows of the vehicles are open. He adds that it makes no sense for the person to wear the mask with closed windows in a vehicle. The court should put regulations on crowded places than on a person, he says.

Justice Pratima M Singh compares the mask to a ‘Suraksha Kavach’ as it gives protection against the covid 19 viruses. She points out that a private vehicle on a road is a public place and hence mask-wearing even while travelling alone is necessary. 

Many scientists and doctors have said that wearing a mask comes as a precaution. 

However, lone drivers are under no obligation to wear them in a private vehicle. Even the union health minister has said the same regarding this. But he also points out that every state has a right to make rules and implement them. 

The court order comes amidst the rise in the coronavirus cases in Delhi in a single day which figures around  5,100 this year only. 

There has been a spark in the covid cases across India around 1.15 lakh in the last 24 hours ever since the pandemic began.