SC IMPOSES COSTS OF RS. 10,000/- AND DISMISSES PETITION SEEKING FOR USE OF “PHYSICAL DISTANCING” INSTEAD OF “SOCIAL DISTANCING”

On 9th May 2020, the SC dismissed a Petition seeking for directions for use of the term “Physical distancing” instead of “Social distancing” and imposed Costs of RS. 10,000/-.

The Plea, filed by Advocate-On-Record Satya Mitra on behalf of Shakeel Qureshi, and argued by senior Advocate S.B Deshmukh, he is in support of Plea that states such as UP and others were using the word “Social distancing”, they were also allegedly using “Samajik doori” in Hindi.

Deshmukh submitted to the Court that durections should be given for the use of the term “Physical distancing” and not “Social distancing” due to notions of caste that are embedded in the Country’s History. It was further contended that it was a means to discriminate amongst the minorities.

The SC, however, did not entertain the Petition.

A bench comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan, S K Kaul and B R Gavai dismissed the Petition with Cost of RS. 10,000/- which is to be deposited in the SC Mediation Centre with in eight weeks.

By Shubhi Singhal of Law College Dehradun