Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Allahabad High Court Quashes Covid-Era Nizamuddin Markaz Case
Two men were charged during the Covid-19 pandemic after police said they attended a religious gathering in Delhi.
The gathering was at Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz and was associated with Tablighi Jamaat.
Police worried that the men might have coronavirus and spread it to others.
The men later tested negative for Covid-19.
The Allahabad High Court reviewed the case.
The judge said there was not enough evidence that the men had deliberately broken health rules or spread the disease.
The court said the men had been falsely implicated through allegations based on assumptions.
It therefore ended the criminal case against them.
The Allahabad High Court quashed criminal proceedings against two men accused in a Covid-era case.
Police alleged the men attended a Tablighi Jamaat gathering at Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz.
The case involved allegations under Indian Penal Code Sections 188, 269 and 270, along with the Epidemic Diseases Act.
The court noted that the men later tested negative for Covid-19 and found the allegations based on presumption and assumption.
Justice Dr Gautam Chowdhary said continuing the proceedings would abuse the process of the court and law.
- Who
- The Allahabad High Court, Justice Dr Gautam Chowdhary, police authorities, and two men accused in the case.
- What
- The court quashed criminal proceedings against the two men over their alleged attendance at the Nizamuddin Markaz gathering.
- When
- The case arose during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown period; the court’s order was observed on September 18, and the report was published on September 22, 2026.
- Where
- The alleged gathering took place at Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, while the proceedings were before the Allahabad High Court.
- Why
- The court found that the case relied on assumptions about possible infection and lacked sufficient evidence of deliberate violations or disease transmission.
Court’s finding
Police and prosecution allegation
Basis for prosecution
Court’s finding
The court said the men were falsely implicated through false and frivolous allegations based on presumption and assumption, with insufficient concrete evidence of intentional violations or infection transmission.
Police and prosecution allegation
Police alleged that the men attended a religious gathering during the pandemic and could potentially spread coronavirus if they were infected.
Legal violation
Court’s finding
The ruling stated that attendance at a gathering before strict lockdown enforcement did not automatically establish a criminal offence without evidence of a quarantine breach or active infection.
Police and prosecution allegation
The case was filed under provisions concerning disobedience of public orders and negligent or malignant acts likely to spread infection, along with the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Continuation of proceedings
Court’s finding
Justice Dr Gautam Chowdhary said allowing the case to continue would abuse the process of the court and the law.
Police and prosecution allegation
Authorities pursued the proceedings amid early-pandemic concerns about health advisories and possible disease transmission.
- Court
- Allahabad High Court
- Judge
- Justice Dr Gautam Chowdhary
- Accused
- Two men
- Alleged location
- Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz, Delhi
- Charges cited
- Indian Penal Code Sections 188, 269 and 270, plus provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act
- Health finding
- The men later tested negative for Covid-19
- Outcome
- Criminal proceedings, including the charge sheet and subsequent proceedings, were quashed
