<p>The Supreme Court on Wednesday said no poster of 'Covid-19 positive' can be affixed outside patients houses as of now, since the guidelines issued by the Union government do not contain any such requirement.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah said the state governments and Union Territories can resort to the exercise only when any direction is issued by the competent authority under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. </p>.<p>The court noted the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on July 2 did not recommend for pasting of posters outside the residences of Covid-19 positive persons. </p>.<p>The court also pointed out a letter that has been sent by the Centre to the States on November 19 against affixing of posters or other signage outside the residences of those found Covid-19 positive.</p>.<p>"We only observe that no State or Union Territory is required to paste posters outside the residence of Covid-19 positive persons, as of now," the bench said in its 11-page judgement on a PIL by advocate Kush Kalra.</p>.<p>The court disposed of the petition which questioned continuing with the practice for being in violation of individuals' rights to privacy and to live with dignity.</p>.<p>The plea also sought a direction that the names of Covid-19 patients were not circulated in WhatsApp group of Residents Welfare Associations.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court on Wednesday said no poster of 'Covid-19 positive' can be affixed outside patients houses as of now, since the guidelines issued by the Union government do not contain any such requirement.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah said the state governments and Union Territories can resort to the exercise only when any direction is issued by the competent authority under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. </p>.<p>The court noted the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on July 2 did not recommend for pasting of posters outside the residences of Covid-19 positive persons. </p>.<p>The court also pointed out a letter that has been sent by the Centre to the States on November 19 against affixing of posters or other signage outside the residences of those found Covid-19 positive.</p>.<p>"We only observe that no State or Union Territory is required to paste posters outside the residence of Covid-19 positive persons, as of now," the bench said in its 11-page judgement on a PIL by advocate Kush Kalra.</p>.<p>The court disposed of the petition which questioned continuing with the practice for being in violation of individuals' rights to privacy and to live with dignity.</p>.<p>The plea also sought a direction that the names of Covid-19 patients were not circulated in WhatsApp group of Residents Welfare Associations.</p>
