Not Desirable To Discriminate Against Other Professions: Centre Opposes Inclusion Of Judges, Lawyers, Court Staff In COVID Vaccine Priority

The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court that it may not be desirable not be desirable to create a separate class consisting of lawyers and others below 45 years of age and discriminating persons engaged in other trade, profession or business and working under similar geographic conditions and circumstances. The Government through its affidavit by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has submitted before the Court that it is not in larger interest of the nation that the Government starts sub classification based on profession, trade, or any other ground at this juncture. The affidavit has been filed in response to a PIL filed by Arvind Singh seeking inclusion of lawyers, judges and court-staff in the priority list for Covid vaccine. The Centre has state that classification of citizens for vaccination drive is based upon ration and non-arbitrary criteria and any specific classification based upon profession, trade or otherwise is neither possible nor advisable. The affidavit states that the government has tremendous respect for the profession, discharge of duties by these professionals, those lawyers and other associated staff who are either above 60 years, or between age of 45-59 years, and are suffering from very long and exhaustive list of comorbidities would be covered by the vaccination drive. With reference to export of vaccines to other countries, the Government has clarified that it has allowed only limited export of vaccines while according highest priority to domestic needs. It has stated that export of covid 19 vaccine which facilitates global action to vaccination is important to simultaneously protect the high risk population in all countries of the world. The Government has through its affidavit stated that considering limited number of manufacturers and limited availability of vaccines globally and in India, there has been a need of prioritisation of beneficiaries. Such prioritisation is being done by NEGVAC in India context, with WHO's guidance. NGEVAC is the National Expert Group on Vaccination for Covid19, formed under Chairmanship of Member(health), NITI Aayog and co-chaired by Secretary ( Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) The affidavit has stated that the decision to include people over 50 years in priority group is based on vulnerability and mortality risk of the age group for Covid19. The Senior citizens above 60 years have been preferred over 50-59 years age group as they are more vulnerable with higher risk of mortality, which is clear from analysis of Covid19 deaths in the country. Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to 18th March the PIL filed seeking inclusion of lawyers, judges and court-staff in the priority list for Covid vaccine. The Court will also hear the transfer petitions filed by Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech seeking transfer of cases related to Covid19 vaccine to the Apex Court The PIL filed by Arvind Singh has stated that, judiciary and lawyers should also be regarded as frontline workers at par with doctors, police etc and should receive priority for the vaccine. It further said that the Centre has identified the population which has to be identified first, but the 'Operational Guidelines' published by Respondents nowhere provides for any mechanism and criteria upon which such priority population groups have been identified

Not Desirable To Discriminate Against Other Professions: Centre Opposes Inclusion Of Judges, Lawyers, Court Staff In COVID Vaccine Priority

Srishti Ojha

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