Modify vaccination plan, HC to C’garh

COURT ASKS STATE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP ‘HELP DESKS’ TO PROVIDE SPOT REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTERING VACCINES TO THE POOR

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh high court has asked the state government to modify its vaccination rollout plan for the 18-44 age group that linked the Covid-19 jabs to the financial status of the beneficiaries, ruling that the government’s April 30 order that decided the state would first administer the vaccines to the “antyodaya group” (poorest of the poor) and then people from the “Below poverty line” wasn’t correct or sustainable.

“Prima facie, sub-classification with reference to the ‘financial status’ alone as now ordered is not correct or sustainable,” the two-judge bench of the high court said, suggesting that the government consider quotas to ensure that no section is deprived at any point.

“We are of the view that the state government shall fix a reasonable ratio of allotment of vaccines to the ‘Antyodaya Group’, the persons belonging to the ‘Below Poverty Line’ and the persons belonging to the ‘Above Poverty Line’, with reference to all the relevant aspects including the vulnerability, chance to spread the disease and the number of eligible persons in the group,” the bench of Chief Justice PR Ramachandra

Menon and Justice Parth Prateem Sahu said in its order on Wednesday.

Janata Congress ( Jogi) chief, Amit Jogi and two others had petitioned the high court against the state government order, arguing that the sub-classification on the basis of a person’s financial status is beyond the constitutional mandate and violation of the law of equality and the equal opportunity before the law and discriminates against citizens with reference to their right to life.

The court has asked the state government to formulate a scheme for the poor and set up ‘help desks’ providing spot registration and administering vaccines to them, without compromising the right of the other segments who are entitled to have equal treatment with regard to the right to life.