G.O. (Ms.) No. 522, COVID-19 Lockdown Extension, 2021
The Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-TV) Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 522 on 21 August 2021, extending COVID-19 restrictions across Tamil Nadu from 23 August 2021 until 6.00 A.M. on 6 September 2021, with specified relaxations. The notification regulates schools, colleges, businesses, workplaces, public venues, transport and containment zones, but does not change land ownership, registration or property rights.
What the notification does
The Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-TV) Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 522 on 21 August 2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It extended COVID-19 restrictions across Tamil Nadu from 23 August 2021 until 6.00 A.M. on 6 September 2021, while permitting specified activities subject to Standard Operating Procedures.
The notification is a temporary public health measure. It does not alter land ownership, property registration, planning permission, land classification or other land rights.
Who it affects
G.O. (Ms.) No. 522 applies to the general public, educational institutions, businesses, industries, shops, workplaces, transport operators and public venues in Tamil Nadu. District Collectors, local bodies, police authorities and the Greater Chennai Corporation were directed to enforce the restrictions.
Property owners and occupiers may be affected where their premises contain shops, workplaces, hotels, recreational clubs, cinemas, creches or other permitted establishments.
Key relaxations
From 23 August 2021, the notification permitted:
- Public access to beaches.
- Zoological parks, botanical parks and boat houses to operate under Standard Operating Procedures.
- Shops and activities previously permitted until 9.00 P.M. to operate until 10.00 P.M.
- Cinema houses to operate at 50 per cent seating capacity.
- Public transport to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
- Creches and hotel and recreational club bars to operate.
- Swimming pools to operate at 50 per cent of trainees, only for sports training.
- Employment training classes conducted by the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation and Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation.
Schools could conduct classes for standards 9 to 12 from 1 September 2021. Colleges, universities, diploma courses and polytechnic colleges could conduct classes on a rotation basis from that date.
Safety and enforcement
G.O. (Ms.) No. 522 requires permitted establishments, organisations and industries to ensure employee vaccination. Shops must provide hand hygiene facilities, require masks, support ventilation, control customer numbers and maintain distancing in queues.
Containment zones were to be identified at the micro level. Only essential activities, medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services were allowed there, with intensive house-to-house surveillance.
Violations could result in fines and proceedings under sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and other applicable legal provisions.
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Common questions
Does G.O. (Ms.) No. 522 affect my land title or property registration?
No land title, registration, planning or land classification change is stated. The notification concerns temporary COVID-19 restrictions and permitted activities.
Could shops operating from my property remain open later?
From 23 August 2021, shops and activities previously permitted until 9.00 P.M. could operate until 10.00 P.M., subject to Standard Operating Procedures.
What rules applied to shops and establishments?
They had to provide hand hygiene facilities, require masks, maintain ventilation, limit the number of people inside and provide suitably spaced queue markings. Permitted establishments also had to ensure that employees were vaccinated.
Were normal activities allowed on property inside a containment zone?
No. Containment zones allowed only essential activities, medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services, along with intensive surveillance.
