Supreme Court stays Gujarat High Court directive imposing community service for violation of face mask norms

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Gujarat High Court's direction to the State government to impose non-medical community service on those found violating norms mandating wearing of face covers/masks..The stay order by the top court was passed after the State of Gujarat rushed to the apex court challenging the High Court order of Wednesday. .Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat state government, submitted before Supreme Court that the health of the persons providing community service could be endangered due to the High Court directive. "Sometimes cure is more dangerous than prevention itself. Of course mask should be worn but this is not the cure," the Solicitor-General said..Declaring that it found substance in the Solicitor-General's submission, the Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, MR Shah, and R Subhash Reddy stayed the community service directive while enjoining that the Central and State government's Covid-19 safety protocol including the wearing of face masks be rigorously implemented..Directing the respondent to file a counter within four weeks, the Court instructed all state governments to table suggestions on imposing Covid-19 safety norms, which would be collated..The Gujarat High Court had on Wednesday urged the State government to draw up a policy to impose community service as a penalty on those found violating COVID-19 safety norms by failing to wear face masks in public places..COVID-19: Gujarat High Court urges State government to impose penalty of community service for those not wearing face masks.According to the Gujarat High Court's direction, a violator is expected to devote 4-6 hours a day for a period ranging from 5-15 days towards community service.The Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and JB Pardiwala directed that the penalty of community service will operate along with the fines presently imposed for violation of the COVID-19 safety protocol.."Every minute, every hour, every day matters. Any lethargy or inaction today may result in putting the lives of millions at risk," the High Court had observed..Presently, a fine up to Rs. 1000 is levied for Covid-19 face mask violations in Gujarat..Read the State of Gujarat's petition here: