A Himachal Pradesh Congress legislator on Saturday requested Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar to impose a fine of ₹5,000 on Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for not wearing a mask in the Assembly.

On the last day of the Budget Session, Shillai MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan stated that a strong message of wearing masks to check the spread of COVID-19 should go to the public from this House. When Mr. Chauhan made the demand, the speaker himself was without a mask. A member from the treasury benches stated that the Congress legislator himself did not wear the mask properly. To this, Mr. Chauhan stated he wore the mask but pulled it down to his chin so as to speak.

The entire matter ended in laughter.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri stated that a fine of ₹5,000 had recently been announced against those who did not wear masks in Una district. The fine of ₹5,000 cannot be justified, he said and demanded that the amount should be reduced and a decision on the matter should be taken at the state level.

Replying to Mr. Agnihotri, Chief Minister Thakur said that a fresh coronavirus wave is spreading in the country as well as in Himachal Pradesh, necessitating strict adherence to guidelines, including wearing of masks.

Acknowledging that the fine is heavy, Mr. Thakur said it ensures the public adhere to the direction of wearing masks.