%3Cp%3EExpressing%20deep%20concern%20and%20displeasure%20at%20the%20unabated%20spread%20of%20COVID-19%20across%20the%20country%u2019s%20most%20populous%20state%20of%20Uttar%20Pradesh%2C%26nbsp%3B%20the%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/allahabad-hc-orders-up-govt-to-close-all-establishments-in-5-cities-till-april-26%22%3EAllahabad%20High%20Court%20%3C/a%3Eon%20Monday%20directed%20the%20state%20to%20clamp%20a%20lockdown%20in%20five%20major%20cities%2C%20including%20the%20state%20capital%20Lucknow%2C%20PM%20Narendra%20Modi%u2019s%20constituency%20Varanasi%2C%20and%20three%20other%20cities%20where%20the%20magnitude%20of%20the%20problem%20had%20touched%20alarming%20proportions.%26nbsp%3B%20The%20Yogi%20Adityanath%20government%2C%20however%2C%20chose%20to%20stick%20to%20%u201Cno%20complete%20lockdown%u201D%20policy%20and%20said%20that%20they%20will%20impose%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/covid-surge-lock-down-lucknow-and-4-more-cities-for-a-week-orders-hc%22%3E%u201Cstricter%u201D%20measures%20instead.%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BEarlier%20today%2C%20a%20division%20bench%20of%20the%20High%20Court%20comprising%20Justice%20Siddharth%20Verma%20and%20Justice%20Ajit%20Kumar%20ordered%20that%20all%20establishments%20be%20it%20government%20or%20private%2C%20except%20financial%20institutions%20and%20financial%20departments%2C%20medical%20and%20health%20services%2C%20industrial%20and%20scientific%20establishments%2C%20essential%20services%20including%20municipal%20functions%2C%20and%20public%20transport%2C%20shall%20remain%20closed%20till%20April%2026%20in%20Lucknow%2C%20Prayagraj%2C%20Varanasi%2C%20Kanpur%20and%20Gorakhpur%2C%20adding%20that%20%u201Cthe%20judiciary%20will%20however%2C%20function%20on%20its%20own%20discretion%u201D.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/manmohan-singh-in-hospital-with-covid-pm-rahul-gandhi-wish-speedy-recovery%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EManmohan%20Singh%20in%20hospital%20with%20Covid%3A%20PM%2C%20Rahul%20Gandhi%20wish%20%27speedy%20recovery%27%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BThe%20order%20came%20in%20response%20to%20a%20Public%20Interest%20Litigation%20%28PIL%29%20moved%20by%20a%20large%20group%20of%20persons%20who%20sought%20to%20raise%20the%20issue%20of%20%u2018Inhuman%20Conditions%20at%20quarantine%20centres%20and%20for%20providing%20better%20treatment%20to%20Corona%20Positive%20cases%u2019.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EConveying%20their%20anguish%20over%20the%20prevailing%20state%20of%20affairs%2C%20the%20bench%20observed%2C%26nbsp%3B%20%u201Cif%20a%20popular%20government%20has%20its%20own%20political%20compulsions%20in%20not%20checking%20public%20movements%20during%20this%20pandemic%2C%20we%20can%20not%20remain%20mere%20passive%20spectators.%u201D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%u201CPublic%20health%20is%20the%20top%20most%20priority%20and%20call%20of%20the%20moment%20and%20any%20complacency%20of%20any%20degree%20today%20will%20cause%20havoc%20to%20people.%20We%20can%u2019t%20shirk%20away%20from%20our%20constitutional%20duty%20to%20save%20innocent%20people%20from%20the%20pandemic%20which%20is%20spreading%20due%20to%20the%20negligence%20of%20a%20few.%20Thus%20in%20the%20larger%20public%20interest%2C%20we%20are%20called%20upon%20to%20pass%20orders%20to%20break%20the%20chain%20of%20the%20pandemic%20COVID-19%2C%u201D%20the%20judges%20said.%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BThey%20went%20on%20to%20add%2C%20%u201Cwe%20are%20of%20the%20considered%20view%20that%20in%20given%20scenario%20of%20the%20present%20time%20if%20people%20are%20restrained%20from%20going%20outside%20their%20homes%20for%20a%20week%20in%20the%20first%20instance%2C%20the%20current%20chain%20of%20spread%20of%20COVID%20infection%20can%20be%20broken%20and%20this%20will%20also%20give%20some%20respite%20to%20the%20frontline%20medical%20and%20health%20workers%20who%20would%20pay%20more%20attention%20to%20those%20patients%20who%20are%20already%20admitted.%20They%20would%20also%20get%20some%20sort%20of%20much%20required%20short%20rest%20as%20they%20are%20getting%20exhausted.%u201D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BThe%20local%20administration%20in%20the%20five%20named%20districts%20have%20been%20asked%20to%20notify%20their%20respective%20containment%20zones%20every%20day%20in%20two%20leading%20Hindi%20and%20English%20newspapers%20having%20wide%20circulation%20in%20each%20of%20the%20districts.%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/vaccine-biggest-weapon-against-virus-pm-modi-after-meeting-with-doctors%22%3E%3Cstrong%3E%27Vaccine%20biggest%20weapon%20against%20virus%27%3A%20PM%20Modi%20after%20meeting%20with%20doctors%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%22Let%20a%20copy%20of%20this%20order%20be%20sent%20to%20the%20Chief%20Secretary%2C%20Government%20of%20Uttar%20Pradesh%20today%20itself%20to%20enforce%20our%20above%20directions%20forthwith%20from%20the%20night%20of%2019.04.2021%20till%2026.04.2021%20in%20the%20cities%20of%20Prayagraj%2C%20Lucknow%2C%20Varanasi%2C%20Kanpur%20Nagar%2C%20and%20Gorakhpur.%20Copies%20of%20this%20order%20shall%20also%20be%20placed%20before%20the%20District%20Magistrates%20of%20the%20concerned%20districts%u201D%2C%20the%20bench%20further%20pointed%20out.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESo%20what%20are%20the%20lockdown%20measures%20ordered%20by%20the%20high%20court%3F%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BAs%20per%20the%20court%u2019s%20order%2C%20%u201Call%20shopping%20complexes%20and%20malls%20shall%20remain%20closed%20till%2026th%20April%2C%202021.%20These%20will%20include%20all%20grocery%20shops%20and%20other%20commercial%20shops%20excluding%20medical%20shops%2C%20with%20more%20than%20three%20workers%20.%20All%20hotels%2C%20restaurants%20and%20even%20the%20small%20eating%20points%20on%20%u2018thelas%u2019%20etc.%20shall%20also%20remain%20closed%20.%u201D%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BAll%20public%20movements%20on%20roads%20would%20remain%20restricted%20completely%2C%20subject%20to%20above%20directions.%20Movements%20would%20be%20only%20allowed%20in%20case%20of%20medical%20help%20and%20emergencies.%20The%20bench%20has%20directed%20the%20state%20government%20to%20%u201Cgo%20robust%20for%20implementing%20the%20current%20vaccination%20programme.%u201D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/uk-adds-india-to-travel-red-list-over-covid-19-surge%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EUK%20adds%20India%20to%20travel%20%27red%20list%27%20over%20COVID-19%20surge%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BIt%20said%2C%20%u201Call%20institutions%20like%20educational%20institutions%20and%20other%20institutions%20relating%20to%20other%20disciplines%20and%20activities%20%2Cbe%20it%20government%2C%20semi%20government%20or%20private%20shall%20remain%20closed%20including%20for%20their%20teachers%20and%20instructors%20and%20other%20staff%20.%u201D%20The%20bench%20sought%20to%20clarify%20that%20its%20order%20with%20respect%20to%20educational%20institutions%20would%20not%20be%20limited%20to%20just%20five%20districts%20%2C%20but%20to%20the%20entire%20state.%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BWhile%20all%20social%20functions%20and%20gatherings%20including%20marriage%20functions%20have%20also%20been%20banned%20during%20the%20period%20of%20this%20lockdown%2C%20the%20only%20exception%20that%20has%20been%20made%20is%20in%20case%20of%20such%20marriages%20which%20have%20been%20fixed%20from%20before.%20%u201CHowever%2C%20in%20case%20of%20already%20fixed%20marriages%20a%20necessary%20further%20permission%20would%20have%20to%20be%20taken%20from%20the%20District%20Magistrate%20of%20the%20concerned%20district.%20Gatherings%20would%20be%20limited%20to%2025%20persons%20and%20the%20district%20magistrate%20concerned%20shall%20take%20decision%20after%20giving%20due%20consideration%20to%20the%20prevailing%20situation%20of%20the%20impact%20of%20Covid%2019%20including%20notification%20of%20containment%20zones%20in%20the%20area%20where%20such%20marriage%20has%20to%20take%20place%u201D%2C%20the%20order%20added.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BNot%20only%20all%20religious%20activities%20in%20public%26nbsp%3B%20have%20been%20suspended%20but%20even%20all%20religious%20establishments%20have%20been%20directed%20to%20remain%20closed%20until%26nbsp%3B%20April%2026.%20The%20deep%20concern%20of%20the%20High%20Court%20is%20further%20reflected%20in%20its%20order%20that%20goes%20to%20the%20extent%20of%20telling%20even%20hawkers%2C%20including%20fruit%2C%20vegetable%2C%20milk%20and%20bread%20vendors%20to%20finish%20their%20business%20latest%20by%2011%20am.%20They%20will%20have%20to%20go%20off%20the%20road%20latest%20by%2011%20am%20every%20day%20until%20April%2026%2C%20the%20order%20very%20explicitly%20stated.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWhat%20did%20UP%20government%20say%3F%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20Yogi%20Adityanath%20government%20was%20quick%20to%20come%20out%20with%20a%20clarification%20on%20%u201Ccomplete%20lockdown%u201D.%20Stricter%20curbs%20but%20no%20lockdown%2C%20it%20said%20adding%20that%20%u201Cwe%20are%20aware%20of%20the%20seriousness%20of%20the%20Covid%20spread%20in%20UP%20but%20we%20do%20not%20propose%20to%20impose%20a%20lockdown.%20Instead%20we%20will%20take%20more%20strict%20and%20effective%20measures%20to%20prevent%20further%20spread%20of%20the%20virus%u201D%2C%20said%20the%20official%20spokesman%20through%20a%20press%26nbsp%3B%20statement%20issued%20late%20on%20Monday.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAlso%20read%3A%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/third-phase-of-covid-19-vaccination-to-begin-from-may-1-all-you-need-to-know%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EThird%20Phase%20of%20COVID-19%20vaccination%20to%20begin%20from%20May%201%20%3A%20All%20you%20need%20to%20know%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3BIt%20is%20learnt%20that%20the%20state%20government%27s%20unwillingness%20to%20implement%20the%20court%20order%20stems%20from%20its%20keenness%20to%20continue%20with%20the%20panchayat%20election%20process.%20In%20case%20the%20court%20order%20is%20implemented%2C%20then%20teachers%20will%20have%20to%20be%20sent%20off%20duty%20across%20the%20state%20and%20panchayat%20elections%20cannot%20be%20conducted%20without%20school%20teachers%2C%20who%20are%20specially%20detailed%20to%20do%20election%20duties.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThe%20Uttar%20Pradesh%20government%20will%20submit%20its%20reply%20before%20the%20court%20on%20its%20observations.%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EEarlier%20also%2C%20the%20state%20government%20had%20been%20under%20fire%20from%20various%20quarters%20for%20going%20ahead%20with%20panchayat%20polls%2C%20where%20covid%20norms%20were%20just%20thrown%20to%20the%20winds.%20But%20even%20as%20the%20government%20was%20being%20accused%20of%20observing%20double%20standards%2C%20the%20chief%20minister%20did%20not%20change%20the%20panchayat%20election%20schedule.%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E

%3Cp%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/p%3E