Ahmedabad, Jul 24 (PTI) Amid rise in coronavirus cases, the Gujarat High Court on Friday asked the state government to increase the fine for mask violation to Rs 1,000.

The oral suggestion was made by a division bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala which was hearing a suo motu PIL and connected petitions related to the coronavirus outbreak.

Also Read | Saree Guards, Handholds Now Mandatory For Bikes, Centre Amends Motor Vehicles Rules.

At present, the fine for not wearing masks in public is Rs 500 in cities like Ahmedabad and Surat, while it is Rs 200 in smaller towns.

During Friday's online hearing, the bench said people will start wearing masks if the penalty is increased to Rs 1,000.

Also Read | Aviation Ministry Extends Capping of Fares For Flight Tickets on Domestic Routes Till November 24: Live News Breaking And Coronavirus Updates on July 24, 2020.

It said Rs 1,000 as penalty might sound harsh but it is necessary for the good of the people.

The bench appreciated civic bodies in cities for conducting tests, and suggested that those entering cities must be tested at entry points.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)