G.O.(Ms) No.882, COVID-19 Lockdown Continued with Relaxation, 2021
The Revenue and Disaster Management [D.M.IV] Department issued G.O.(Ms) No.882, dated 15 December 2021, extending Tamil Nadu's existing COVID-19 restrictions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, until 31 December 2021, with specified relaxations. It regulates public gatherings, businesses, educational institutions and containment zones, but does not change land ownership, registration or property rights.
What the notification does
G.O.(Ms) No.882 of the Revenue and Disaster Management [D.M.IV] Department, dated 15 December 2021, continued the existing statewide COVID-19 restrictions until 31 December 2021. The government acted after reviewing the pandemic situation, the Omicron variant in neighbouring states, vaccination needs and directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The notification is a public health and disaster management measure. It contains no provision altering land title, property registration, planning permission, land use or ownership rights.
Restrictions and relaxations
G.O.(Ms) No.882 imposed or continued the following measures:
- Existing restrictions on social, cultural and political gatherings continued.
- The public was not allowed at beaches on 31 December 2021 and 1 January 2022.
- Activities already permitted could continue under their existing restrictions.
- Normal activities in swimming pools were permitted, subject to standard operating procedures.
- Auditoriums could be used for all permitted activities.
- Regular direct classes without rotation were permitted from 3 January 2022 for standards 6 to 12, colleges and polytechnic training institutes.
Requirements for shops and public places
G.O.(Ms) No.882 required shops and places of public gathering to follow safety measures, including:
- Hand sanitiser dispensers and thermal screening at entrances.
- Compulsory face masks for workers and customers.
- Open doors and windows for cross ventilation.
- Limits on the number of people inside to maintain social distancing.
- Queue markings with sufficient distance at shop entrances.
- Compliance with the Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination-COVID-19 appropriate behaviour principle.
Containment zones and enforcement
G.O.(Ms) No.882 directed District Collectors and local bodies to identify containment zones at the micro level and implement containment and vaccination measures. Only essential activities, medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services were allowed within those zones, with intensive house-to-house surveillance.
The Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation, District Collectors and police authorities were directed to enforce masks, hygiene, distancing, screening, sanitisation and applicable standard operating procedures. Violations could attract fines and action 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.882 affect my land ownership or property registration?
No land ownership, property registration, land use or planning provisions appear in the notification. It concerns COVID-19 restrictions and public health measures.
How long were the restrictions extended?
The Revenue and Disaster Management [D.M.IV] Department extended the existing restrictions until 31 December 2021.
Could shops remain open under the notification?
Activities already permitted could continue with existing restrictions. Shops had to provide hand hygiene and thermal screening, require masks, maintain ventilation and control entry for social distancing.
What activities were prohibited in containment zones?
Only essential activities were allowed. Other activity was prohibited except for medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services.
