SENTHIL VEL MURUGAN Vs. GOVT OF TAMILNADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal. Mr.V.Jayaprakash Narayan, learned Government Pleader accepts notice on behalf of respondents 1 and 2 and Mr.T.M.Pappiah, learned Special Government Pleader accepts notice on behalf of respondents 3 and 4 and he is being led by Mrs.Narmadha Sampath, learned Additional Advocate General.

(2.) The writ petition is styled as a Public Interest Litigation filed by the resident of Thirumohur Perungudi, Madurai District and according to him, on account of permission accorded to open the offices of the Sub Registrars and other Register Officers, there is going to be people visiting the said offices for the purpose of registering the documents and in that event, there is every possibility of the said persons contracting COVID- 19 virus and they in turn, in all probability, spread the same to the other persons.

(3.) The learned counsel for the petitioner has drawn the attention of this Court to the typed set of documents and would submit that the Tamil Nadu Sub Registrars' Association has sent a representation dated 17.04.2020 expressing the apprehension as to the opening of the office of the Sub Registrars for the purpose of registration of the documents and despite the said representation, the office of the 4th respondent has issued an Administrative Circular dated 18.04.2020 bearing Letter No.6830/CS/2020 to all the offices of the Sub Registrars, District Registrars and Deputy Inspector General of Registration, giving out certain guidelines of Standard Operating Procedure and the steps to be taken before registering the documents and since the possibility of the spread of COVID-19 virus has not been ruled out absolutely and that the Registration Department cannot be termed as an ''Essential Service'', prays for appropriate orders for closing of the offices of the Registrars, Sub Registrars, District Registrars etc., till the effect of pandemic virus is over.