District Magistrate, Kathua, O.P. Bhagat has imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC and with relevant provisions under Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act to contain the spread of Covid-19.As Government of India has extended lockdown upto May 3, 2020, the DDMA/DM Kathua has ordered that there shall be complete shutdown of Anganwari Centres, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Malls, Shops, Gyms, Business markets and establishments in the district. Except, for the notified essential services and supply chains required to maintain the essential service.It is also ordered that there shall be complete restrictions on the movement of Inter-State /Intra State Buses, Matadors and other modes of public transports, except for authorized SRTC buses plying for essential purposes and there shall be complete ban on assembly of people for any reason whatsoever; that assemblies of any kind for demonstrations, rallies, processions, protests etc are completely prohibited.Moreover, gatherings of any kind social/ cultural/ political/ religious/ academic/ sports/ seminar/ conference etc.,) shall be completely prohibited and all places of worship shall be closed for public. No religious congregations will be permitted, without any exception.
In case of funerals, congregation of not more than twenty persons will be permitted besides people are required to stay at home and come out only to procure essential commodities for consumption by following social distance norms.Government employees of essential services departments or such other departments as required by government shall be permitted to move on production of passes from the office of District Magistrate, Kathua. Policemen and other CAPF on duty (in uniform) shall, however, not be required to obtain passes. All goods vehicles including those carrying essential items shall be allowed to ply during the lockdown period with proper ) permits/passes issued by the district administration.No traffic shall be allowed to enter in district Kathua from outside the Union Territory from the entry points other then Lakhanpur, that too shall be restricted to transportation of essential commodities or any other medical emergency movement after following proper protocol and procedure.Any violation of this order shall invite punitive actions under law.