LI NETWORK
The Supreme Court has observed that notices pasted outside residences of COVID-19 patients lead to them being considered as “untouchables” by others.
A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, RS Reddy, and MR Shah said that the scenario is such that one such notices make others treat the COVID-19 patients’ families as untouchables.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, said that the “States may have decided” to put up such notices and not the central government.
He further stated that the contention to do so was to make strangers aware of the COVID patients around, and they can take precautions accordingly.
The apex court was hearing a plea against the state government’s decision to attach notices outside the houses of Covid-19 patients.
The plea stated that the disclosure of the patients’ names by the state government is infringed on the fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The PIL mentioned:
“Affixing notices/posters outside residences of Covid-19 positive persons tantamount to unprecedented violation of the right to privacy which is a Fundamental Right guaranteed under Article 21 of Constitution.”
The petitioner claimed that affixing posters/notices was a primeval practice used centuries ago to deal with the plague.