Non-serious offences during lockdown may be withdrawn in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: If you have been booked by the police for morning walk or taking your dog for a walk during the lockdown, in all likelihood, the criminal charges against you will be dropped soon. The Gujarat government is considering a proposal to withdraw non-serious offences for which the state police filed thousands of cases during the lockdown.
A mammoth 1.75 lakh cases which include ‘non-serious’ offences like going for a morning walk, sitting in the society space or terraces, walking dogs, small shops not ensuring social distancing of customers have been registered by the state police during the lockdown. A majority of these have been registered using drones.
The home department has opined that apart from serious offences committed during the lockdown like attack on Covid warriors like police, health staff and others, violation of quarantine and deliberately endangering life of others during epidemic and the like, other petty cases could be withdrawn.
However, as the ongoing partial lockdown will continue till June 30, these cases could be withdrawn only after the month ends, sources in the government said. In case the central government decides to extend the partial lockdown beyond June 30, the matter will be considered after the partial lockdown ends.
‘Less serious lockdown cases could be withdrawn’
Also, the government feels that withdrawing petty lockdown cases will be a prudent move, as state police and courts will be overburdened with a very huge number of cases which are 'trivial' in nature. The move is bound to have political ramifications as well, as elections of local bodies including municipal corporations are to be held later this year.
A key state government source told TOI feedback has been received from several quarters regarding the need to withdraw less serious offences registered during the lockdown. “The government is positively considering this proposal. Petty cases against those who have no criminal background could be withdrawn. However, any decision in this regard will happen only after June 30, as night restrictions are still in force,” the source said.
“Politically, this will be a major issue as municipal corporations and municipalities go to polls later this year. The home department has also opined that less serious cases except attacks on health staff and police, violation of quarantine etc., can be withdrawn. This will reduce burden on police and court,” the source stated.
During the lockdown, people have been booked under section 188 of the IPC (disobeying order promulgated by a public servant) section 269 of IPC (negligent act likely to spread disease dangerous to life). These sections entail imprisonment of up to two years if found guilty. Besides, the state police have also clamped sections of the epidemic act and disaster management act against lockdown offenders.
This will not be the first time cases will be withdrawn en masse by the government. Bowing to public sentiment, the government has earlier withdrawn cases registered during the Patidar agitation, the dalit agitation and other caste and community based agitations. The government even withdrew cases filed during the farmers’ agitation.