SRINAGAR, FEB 10: Wearing of mask should not be an ego issue as it’s for one’s own safety from the COVID-19 infection, the Delhi High Court has observed while hearing a plea challenging imposition of challan for not wearing mask while driving a private car alone.
Justice Prathiba M Singh orally observed that wearing a mask even when travelling alone in the car is for one’s own safety from the virus because when a person stops the vehicle at the traffic signal and puts the window down, there is a chance to catch the infection.
“You cannot make it an ego issue…wearing a mask,” the judge said, and warned the petitioner of imposing cost on him.
The court was hearing a plea by petitioner-lawyer, Saurabh Sharma, claiming that on September 9, 2020, while driving to work he was stopped by Delhi Police officials and was challaned Rs 500 for not wearing a mask.
Advocate Farman Ali Magray, appearing for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, submitted that the ministry has not issued any direction asking people to wear masks in a car when they are alone.
[10/02, 6:37 pm] Mushtaq Mamu: Now mercury drops in kashmir
The minimum temperatures remained below sub-zero level and dropped slightly in most parts of the Kashmir Valley, the weatherman said on Wednesday.
An official said that the mercury settled at minus 1.6°C against the previous nights minus 1.2°C and normal of 0.2°C for this time of the year. The temperature this season, especially last month, consistently remained far below normal. On January 31, the mercury plunged to minus 8.8°C, the coldest January night recorded in Srinagar after 30 years.
Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 3.8°C against minus 4.3°C on the previous night while the mercury settled at minus 4.0°C in the world-famous tourist resort of Pahalgam against 2.2°C on the previous night. Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 2.5°C on the previous night, he said. (PTK)