G.O. (Ms) No.371, Complete COVID-19 Lockdown, 2021
The Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department issued G.O. (Ms) No.371 on 8 May 2021 to impose a complete COVID-19 lockdown throughout Tamil Nadu from 4.00 A.M. on 10 May 2021 to 4.00 A.M. on 24 May 2021. It restricted travel, shops, offices, public gatherings and other activities, while permitting specified essential services and limited ongoing construction work.
What the document does
G.O. (Ms) No.371 of the Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department is a statewide COVID-19 public health restriction, not a document changing land ownership, land classification or property rights. It imposed a complete lockdown across Tamil Nadu from 4.00 A.M. on 10 May 2021 until 4.00 A.M. on 24 May 2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
The restrictions were issued after considering increasing COVID-19 cases, consultation with medical experts and District Collectors, and suggestions from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Who it affected
G.O. (Ms) No.371 affected residents, businesses, offices, industries, transport operators, construction projects and visitors throughout Tamil Nadu. Property owners and professionals were affected mainly through limits on office operations, travel and construction activity.
Key effects included:
- All private offices, private organisations and information technology and information technology enabled services were required to close, unless exempted, and adopt work from home.
- Government offices were closed except listed essential departments, including Revenue, Disaster Management, Police, District Administration, electricity, drinking water supply and local bodies.
- Chennai Metro Rail, public and private buses, rental vehicles, taxis and cab aggregators were prohibited. Documented travel was allowed for marriage, funerals of close relatives, interviews or employment, and medical emergencies.
- Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and festival gatherings were prohibited.
- Religious places were closed for public worship, although employees could conduct essential rituals.
- Most shops were closed. Standalone provision, vegetable, meat and fish shops could operate until 12.00 Noon, subject to the stated customer limit.
Construction and essential activities
G.O. (Ms) No.371 permitted ongoing construction work where the labour force remained at the site. It does not provide a general permission for workers to travel to construction sites.
Other permitted activities, except in containment zones, included:
- Milk and newspaper distribution, courier services, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, ambulances and related medical services.
- Goods vehicles, fuel vehicles and vehicles carrying farmers' agricultural produce.
- Agricultural input, seed and fodder shops from 6.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon.
- Courts and the judiciary.
- Electronic and print media.
- Continuous process industries, specified essential commodity industries and the match industry, with safety measures.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Did G.O. (Ms) No.371 change my land ownership or property classification?
No land ownership, title or land classification change is stated in G.O. (Ms) No.371 of the Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department. The document deals with temporary COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Could construction work continue during the lockdown?
G.O. (Ms) No.371 permitted ongoing construction work with an in-situ labour force. The source does not give a wider permission for construction workers to travel to the site.
Were Revenue Department offices allowed to operate?
G.O. (Ms) No.371 listed Revenue among the essential government departments exempted from the general closure of government offices. It does not specify which individual revenue services were available.
Could I travel for a property transaction during the lockdown?
G.O. (Ms) No.371 does not list property transactions as a permitted reason for travel. Documented travel was allowed for marriage, funerals or last rites of close relatives, interviews or employment, and medical emergencies.
