Chandigarh 9Ramanjit Singh)– Union Ministry of Home Affairs informs Advocate H.C. Arora- It is for the States of Punjab/Haryana/UT Chandigarh to impose restrictions on the number of guests in marriage related gatherings on the basis of their assessment of the situation.
Vide order dated 24.6.2020, a Division Bench of the HC had directed the Union of India/States of Punjab and Haryana/UT Chandigarh Administration to take their decisions on the representation submitted by Advocate H.C. Arora (petitioner) in the matter of his demand that the number of guests that may be permitted in marriage related gathering should be reduced from 50 guests to 25 guests. In response to the direction issued by HC, Sh. M. Subramanian, Deputy Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management Division), New Delhi has vide his letter dated 13.7.2020, received through e-mail, apprised Advocate H.C. Arora that in view of clause 5 of the guidelines for Unlock-2, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, it is for the States of Punjab/Haryana /UT Chandigarh Administration to impose such restrictions on the basis of their assessment of the situation on the number of guests in marriage related gatherings.
As regards the State of Punjab, it has issued a notification only yesterday, reducing the maximum number of guests that may be permitted in a marriage related gathering from 50 guests to 30 guests. However, the response of State of Haryana as well as UT Chandigarh Administration is still awaited. Advocate H.C. Arora, intends to file a contempt petition against the Chief Secretary of Haryana as well as Advisor to Chandigarh Administration for non compliance of the directions issued by the HC in its order dated 24.6.2020, in case they do not follow suit in a day or so.