Lawyer seeks Rs 10 Lakh compensation for being fined Rs 500

Guwahati: A Delhi Laywer has approached the Delhi High Court seeking compensation of ₹10 lakh after he was fined ₹500 for not wearing a mask while driving alone in his car.

On his way to office, Police officials fined the petitioner-Advocate, Saurabh Sharma on Sept 9.

The petitioner said that one of the officials initially took his photo and he contested it saying that there was no need for him to wear a mask when driving alone, but the police made him pay the fine.

He also argued that the 'unjust and illegal stopping' and 'extortion' of fine caused 'huge mental turmoil and harassment'.

The lawyer not only sought the refund of the Rs 500 paid by him as fine but has also asked for a compensation of Rs 10,00,000 from the Delhi government.

In his petition before the court, Sharma protested 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'.

During a press conference, he also mentioned about the clarification by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that it has issued no guidelines directing people to wear a mask while travelling alone.

"...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 stated.

As per reports, the petition was heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla.

The date of hearing has been fixed as November 18.

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