Govt of India Issues Orders Prescribing
Lockdown for Containment of COVID-19 Epidemic in the Country
The COVID-19 epidemic has affected many countries and the World Health
Organisation has declared it ‘Pandemic’.
Government of India (GOI) has been taking several proactive preventive
and mitigating measures starting with progressive tightening of international
travel, issue of advisories for the members of the public, setting up
quarantine facilities, contact tracing of persons infected by the virus and various
social distancing measures. Several advisories have been issued to States and
Union Territories (UTs) for taking necessary measures to contain the spread of
this virus. Government have temporarily suspended metro and rail services as
well as domestic air traffic.
The situation has been continuously reviewed at the level of the Prime
Minister of India. The PM has addressed the Nation on 24 March 2020 on the need
for preventive measures and has also held meeting with all the Chief Ministers
through video conference.
Experts, keeping in view the global experiences of countries which have
been successful in containing the spread of COVID-19 unlike some others where
thousands of people died, have recommended that effective measures for social
distancing should be taken to contain the spread of this pandemic
While steps taken by State/UT Governments are in the right direction,
lack of uniformity in the measures adopted as well as in their implementation,
may not serve the objective of containing the spread of the virus. Considering
the situation. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chaired by
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in exercise of the powers under
section 6(2)(i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, has issued an Order dated
24.03.2020, directing the Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, and
the State/Union Territory Governments and State/ Union Territory Authorities to
take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
In compliance of the said Order of NDMA, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
has issued an Order dated 24.03.2020 under Section 10(2)(l) of the Disaster
Management Act, directing the Ministries/ Departments of Government of India,
State/Union Territory Governments and State/ Union Territory Authorities to
take effective measures for ensuring social distancing so as to prevent the
spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Order shall remain in force, in all
parts of the country, for a period of 21 days with effect from 25.03.2020.
The Ministries/ Departments of Government of India and State
Governments/Union Territory Administrations, have been directed to ensure
strict implementation of these Orders. The implementation of these measures
will be monitored by MHA.