Plea seeks thermal cameras in public places to detect virus

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathayanarayanan and Justice Anita Sumanth, before whom the plea moved by advocate AS Bilal came up on Tuesday, directed the petitioner to include the Centre in the case and posted it for further hearing to June 2. The bench also directed the petitioner to provide additional information on the efficacy of the technological measures cited in his plea.

The petitioner had submitted that China, where the virus surfaced and grew to become the pandemic, and few advanced nations had effectively contained the spread of the virus by installation of “thermal cameras” in public places to effectively detect those with the viral infection. In addition, they have also introduced thermal virus scanner phone app check, using which the people can do a virus check using their phone before stepping out.

Citing these examples, the petitioner sought the State government to coordinate with top software and technology companies in Chennai to create a mobile phone software application to scan for the viral infection. Only those with ‘green status’, which indicates that she/he is not infected, should be permitted to go out to ensure that the infection does not spread to more people, the petitioner added.