The Supreme Court on Wednesday took note
of the Centre’s guidelines and said that posters and signage should not be
affixed by the authorities outside the homes of COVID-19 patients in the country. The apex
court, however, added that such posters can be affixed only in specific cases
when the competent authority issues specific directions under the Disaster
Management Act.
A bench
headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said this in its verdict on a plea seeking
directions to do away with the practice of pasting posters outside the homes of
those infected by the coronavirus. The bench, also comprising justices RS
Reddy and M R Shah, disposed of the plea, saying the Centre has already issued
guidelines, and therefore, states and union territories should not affix such
posters.
The Centre had earlier
told the top court that its guidelines do not contain any instructions
regarding affixing posters and signage outside the homes of COVID-19 patients, and there cannot be any
stigma attached to it.
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