Shivangi Prakash-
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, in a notice issued in response to a petition seeking vaccination for disabled people as a distinct category, directed the Centre and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to take appropriate steps to vaccinate such people in accordance with the Centre’s recommendations.
“The respondents shall take note of the claim of the petitioners made in the writ petition and take effective steps for their vaccination as per the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.” The Court said.
A single-judge bench led by Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey further ordered the Jammu and Kashmir UT’s Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, to produce an affidavit by the next date of hearing outlining plans for vaccinating disabled people in the UT.
In a petition filed on behalf of Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, which represents specially-abled people, one Javed Ahmad Tak requests that the government treat all persons with disabilities as special categories and ensure that they are vaccinated in accordance with the policies of the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as well as the Government of Union Territory of J&K.
The petitioner further said the vaccination of people with disabilities is vital since they are in danger of dying as a result of a big percentage of them testing positive due to their inability to follow SOPs.
Hearing the submission, the Court issued a notice in the plea and ordered thus:
“The Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department shall file an affidavit, indicating therein the steps for ensuring vaccination of the disabled persons in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The affidavit shall be filed by or before the next date of hearing.”
The matter will now be heard on July 8.