No provisions for mandatory vaccination of employees: Haryana

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Tuesday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that there are provisions in the Haryana Service Rules (HSR) for mandatory vaccination of employees.

However, they said that the issue is being considered as guidelines issued by the Centre may have overriding effect at this stage which provides that vaccination should generally be voluntary in nature and preference has to be given to frontline workers, state advocate general BR Mahajan told the HC.

During the hearing on Tuesday, it was pointed out by amicus curaie Rupinder Khosla that as per affidavit submitted by additional chief secretary (health) Rajeev Arora on the issue the government has decided not to invoke the provisions of mandatory vaccination of employees, Mahajan said that “probably the same is not happily worded. If necessary, a short affidavit will be filed on or before the next date of hearing to clarify the position,” he told the court.

The state government has not given a break up on spread of Covid-19 in rural and urban areas but said that many steps have been taken to ensure that medical assistance is available in the rural areas.

A senior officer has been assigned the duties in every district for this purpose. Even a tele-consultancy service has been activated and wide publication has been given to the telephone number, the court was told. On oxygen availability, the state told court that it is struggling to meet the demand of oxygen. The state has been sanctioned 307 MT liquid oxygen. But it receives only 99 MT from sources located in Haryana, and 37% is obtained from sources located 1,200km away, the government told court, adding that the state requires four times the capacity of cryogenic tankers to ensure steady supply on daily basis.