New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the state governments to do away with the practice of pasting posters outside residences of COVID-19 patients, who are required to stay in home isolation unless there was a direction from a competent authority.

The Apex Court bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan, RS Reddy and MR Shah was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by counsel Kush Kalra seeking directions against the state governments affixing posters and signages outside coronavirus patients’ homes.

The petitioner also submitted that the posters widely publicised a person’s illness in a residential area are also in violation of the fundamental right to privacy. The 'Constitution does not and can never permit discrimination on the ground of illness and physical suffering, Kalra said.

Stating that the Centre has already issued guidelines in this regard, the top court added that such posters can be affixed only in specific cases when the competent authority issues specific directions under the Disaster Management Act.

On December 1, the Apex Court had observed that the practice of sticking posters outside the homes of COVID patients battling the severe physical illness and the associated mental trauma are treated as "untouchables", reflecting a different "ground reality".

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