G.O. (Ms) No.409, COVID-19 Lockdown Extension, 2021
The Government of Tamil Nadu, through the Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department, issued G.O. (Ms) No.409 dated 20 June 2021, extending the COVID-19 lockdown from 21 June 2021 until 6.00 A.M. on 28 June 2021. It classified districts into three categories, set different permitted activities and operating hours, and temporarily restricted services including deed registration at Sub-Registrar Offices.
What the notification governed
G.O. (Ms) No.409 of the Revenue and Disaster Management (DM-IV) Department extended the complete lockdown throughout Tamil Nadu until 6.00 A.M. on 28 June 2021 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Permissions and restrictions differed according to the number of active COVID-19 cases in each district.
The district categories were:
- Category I: Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Myladuthurai.
- Category II: Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Kanniyakumari, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Ranipet, Sivaganga, Theni, Thenkasi, Tirunelveli, Tirupathur, Tiruvannamalai, Thoothukudi, Tiruchirappalli, Vellore, Villupuram and Virudhunagar.
- Category III: Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu.
Effect on property registration
G.O. (Ms) No.409 included Sub-Registrar Offices in its list of permitted activities. The annexure states that only 50 tokens per day could be issued for deed registration in the Category I entry. It also records permission with 100 per cent of tokens in the next category entry, but the supplied table does not separately state the position for every remaining category.
Private offices were not permitted in Category I. They could operate with 33 per cent staff strength in Categories II and III. Other government departments could operate with 30 per cent staff in Category I, 50 per cent in Category II and 100 per cent in Category III.
Operating conditions and enforcement
G.O. (Ms) No.409 required permitted shops to follow these safeguards:
- Provide hand sanitiser and thermal screening at the entrance.
- Ensure workers and customers wore face masks.
- Operate without air conditioning.
- Limit the number of people inside and mark queues for distancing.
No activities were permitted in containment zones. Emergency travel to Nilgiris District, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Yelagiri and Kutralam required an e-pass from the relevant District Collector.
The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner and District Collectors were responsible for enforcement. Violations could lead to fines and proceedings under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Indian Penal Code and other applicable legal provisions.
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Common questions
Could I register a property deed during this lockdown period?
Sub-Registrar Offices were included as a permitted activity. The annexure limited the Category I entry to 50 tokens per day for deed registration and recorded permission with 100 per cent of tokens in the next category entry.
Which category included Chennai and its surrounding districts?
Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu were placed in Category III.
Were private property or professional offices allowed to open?
Private offices were not permitted in Category I. They were permitted with 33 per cent staff strength in Categories II and III.
How long did G.O. (Ms) No.409 apply?
G.O. (Ms) No.409 extended the lockdown from 21 June 2021 until 6.00 A.M. on 28 June 2021.
