Security concerns prompted the Punjab government to prohibit outdoor drone flights throughout the province for a duration of 30 days invoking Section 144.
A formal notification released by the Punjab Home Department specifies that small drones may still be operated in a limited capacity for covering events inside marquees and halls, provided organizers take full responsibility for safe usage.
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies remain exempt from these rules.
District-level Safe Drone Usage Committees will be formed by the government to grant written permits for research and agricultural drone activities. Any drone functioning with written authorization from these committees is exempt from the prohibition.
Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 was used by the Punjab Home Secretary to enforce these limitations.
Police departments and local administrations throughout Punjab received instructions to enforce the directives strictly.
