MOHD. ANWAR Vs. STATE NCT OF DELHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The aforesaid Petitions have been filed under Sec. 482 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.) seeking quashing of various FIRs under Ss. 188/269/270/271/120B IPC read with Sec. 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Ss. 51/58 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, registered at P.S. Chandani Mahal, Sarai Rohilla, and Krishna Nagar between 31/3/2020 and 2/4/2020.

(2.) The brief background of the aforesaid cases leading to the registration of the aforesaid FIRs, may firstly be considered. Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic self-reformatory movement for the followers of Islam, having its global Headquarters at the Nizamuddin Markaz, New Delhi, organizes annual religious congregation. On the aforementioned occasion, the followers and members of the Movement from across the globe, participate in this religious congregation at the Markaz. The details of which are formalized a year in advance, for the convenience of the foreign nationals to attend the same. This year, the congregation was scheduled for early March, 2020, well before the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

(3.) On 11/3/2020, The World Health Organization declared novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) as a pandemic. On the same date, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India notified the suspension of visas till 15/4/2020 except for a few categories such as diplomatic, official, UN / international organization, Project visa.