DM makes wearing of masks compulsory at Kupwara

Kupwara: To make wearing of masks compulsory in the district, Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority/ District Magistrate Kupwara, Imam Din today issued an order where under officers of nine departments have been empowered to impose and collect penalties from the persons found without wearing masks, to ensure usage of masks at public places within their jurisdictions.

These officers have been authorised to impose a fine of Rs.500 in first instance and Rs.1000 in repeated instances for not wearing the masks in public places. Non-payment of penalty by such violators will attract proceedings under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

The officers authorised to impose fine include Revenue department, not below the rank of Naib Tehsildar; Rural Development department, not below the rank of Panchayat Inspector; Municipalities, not below the rank of Khilafwarzi Inspector, FCS&CA department, not below the rank of Tehsil Supply Officer.

Besides, from the Legal Metrology department, not below the rank of Inspector; Food Safety Department, not below the rank of Food Safety Inspector; Transport Department, not below the rank of Inspector; Police department, not below the rank of Sub Inspector and Traffic department, not below the rank of Sub Inspector.

The officers were asked to collect the Receipt books for imposing the penalty / fine from the Red Cross section of D.C. Office Kupwara and the fine/ realisations so collected shall be credited to District Red Cross Society Kupwara under proper receipt.