Not having AarogyaSetu installed in phone is a punishable offence in Gautam Budh Nagar, as per a Police order released on the night of May 3 by Akhilesh Kumar, DCP, Law and Order. According to the recent order, those residing in Noida and Greater Noida and those coming from outside need to have AarogyaSetu app installed in their phones. People found violating the order can be booked under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant. Post that, a judicial magistrate will decide if the person will be tried, fined or left with off a warning.
The punishment for not abiding with the police orders is a fine of Rs 1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.
Moreover, the DCP said, if the people will download the application immediately the police will let them go, however, if after repeated warnings, the app is not downloaded by someone then he/ she will be subjected to punishment under Section 188 of IPC. The police had taken this step so that people take it seriously. In case someone does not have mobile data, he said, “we will give them hotspot so they can download it there and then”. And if there are other issues such as lack of phone storage, the officer said they will take the person’s number and call to check whether they have downloaded the app.
As per Alok Singh, Commissioner, Gautam Budh Nagar Police, Checks will be conducted at the borders and the checkpoints at random. Police will also check for the app when they are out on patrol duty. In case someone is not carrying a phone he/she will be asked to get it from their homes, Singh added.
