Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Sep 18: An advocate has approached the Delhi High Court seeking compensation of Rs 10 lac after he was fined Rs 500 for not wearing a mask while driving alone in his car.
The petitioner is advocate Saurabh Sharma, with 20 years of practice.
As per Sharma, on September 9, while he was on his way to his office, he was stopped near Geeta Colony by Delhi police officials.
One of the officials first took his photo while he was still sitting in his car and then asked him to step out of his car, it is said.
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The police had then informed the advocate that he would be fined Rs 500 for travelling in his car without a mask maintaining that not wearing a mask in a public place is an offence, the petitioner said narrating his ordeal.
Meanwhile, Sharma stressed that since he was travelling alone, he had not committed any offence. However, the police officials paid no heed to his statements and issued a challan.
The fine was thereafter paid by Sharma to the officials albeit under protest.
Arguing that the 'unjust and illegal stopping' and 'extortion' of fine caused 'huge mental turmoil and harassment', the petitioner not only sought the refund of the Rs 500 paid by him as fine but has also requested for a compensation of Rs 10,00,000 from the Delhi government.
In his petition before the court, Sharma has submitted that there could be no challan for not wearing a mask in a personal, private vehicle while travelling alone as it is not a 'public place'.
“...Wearing a mask while sitting alone in the car is not a hazard to anyone’s health and safety but wearing it all the time even when a person is alone is certainly a health hazard for oneself.", the petition reads.
The petition also stated that there has been no executive order directing people to wear a mask while travelling alone and thus, any such fine levied on the general public by authorities is liable to be quashed.
A single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla has heard the petition submitted by advocate Sharma. After hearing the counsel for the petitioner, the court sought the relevant document from the respondent authorities.
The petitioner was represented by advocate KC Mittal with advocate Yugensh Mittal. The petition was filed through advocate Joby P Varghese.
The matter would be heard next on November 18.