Instructions were issued for the opening and functioning of hotels, restaurants, food joints, small eateries, and outlets in the small state amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation by Hon’ble Allahabad High Court on 1st October 2020.

The Hon’ble bench Of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar ordered the food outlets and restaurants will be permitted tony if they give undertaking which shall be to the following effect –

  • If a restaurant permits people to have food inside its premises then it should see that the social distancing is maintained;
  • No eatery shall allow its customer to hang around its premises and have food openly;
  • Within five yards of every eatery, no customer/ individual should be seen without a mask;
  • No person near the eatery should be allowed to throw any used plate, spoon, or glass;
  • If any customer/individual is seen without a mask or having food within five yards of the eatery then definitely suitable action would follow;
  • No roadside eateries and open-air restaurants shall sell potable water;
  • As far as possible any eatery having a turnover of more than Rs.5,000/- per day should have CCTV cameras installed;
  • All eateries would make arrangements for selling their food articles in tightly packed/ sealed boxes which definitely would not be openable with ease after the customer leaves the eateries and the customer should thereafter open only at his residence;
  • In case a customer misbehaves and does not listen to the owner, the owner shall be free to report the matter to the police, who shall be duty-bound to take action. 

Also, it has been clarified that these directions will be in effect for a period of six weeks and non-compliance will invite lawful action by the police authorities.

The Hon’ble bench while listening to an application filed by particular food joints/corporations, who were being prosecuted for the transgression of the instructions issued by Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulations, 2020.

It also appreciated the “prompt Action” taken to violating these instructions it said, 

We appreciate the steps taken by the district and police administration of various districts in the State to enforce COVID-19 guidelines but we do feel that they need to remain constantly vigilant. However, to facilitate further control of the pandemic, we think it appropriate that for a period of six weeks, the State Government/ Administration may control the functioning of the eateries further.

The Hon’ble High Court also emphasized the masks and directed the Nagar Nigam to promote the “No mask No entry” motto in public places and offices.

Read Order here [.pdf]


-This news is reported by Urvi Yadav