Cops fine doc, Patiala health dept terms challan ‘unreasonable’

CIVIL SURGEON WROTE TO THE SSP ASKING HIM TO IMPLEMENT THE OFFICIAL ORDERS ACCURATELY

PATIALA : After a woman doctor was fined for not wearing mask inside her car, Patiala civil surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra on Sunday termed termed the challan “unreasonable” and a violation of the government’s order.

He also wrote to the Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP), asking him to implement the official orders accurately.

Car occupants can be challaned for not maintaining social distancing, but not if they are not wearing masks.

On Saturday, the Patiala police had issued a challan to Dr Harjot Kaur, a medical officer at the primary health centre in Sauja of Bhadson block, for not wearing a mask while driving in her car.

In his letter to SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, the civil surgeon wrote, “It has come to my notice that SHO Kotawali has issued a challan to Dr Harjot Kaur for not wearing mask in car while she was on Covid-19 duty. In this regard, the health department is also receiving verbal complaints that challans have been issued for not wearing masks in car, which is a violation of government’s order, as per which, people will be fined for not wearing masks in public places only. Therefore, you should direct the officials and officers to stick to that.”

“The motive behind writing to the SSP is to highlight the need of sensitisation among police personnel, who are responsible for implementation of government’s order,” Dr Malhotra said.