Consider Vaccinating Caretakers Of Juvenile Justice Homes/Child Care Centres, Treat Them As Frontline Warriors: Gauhati HC To Govt.

The Bench of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak observed,

"The persons, who are taking care of juveniles in these Juvenile Centres, need to be vaccinated for their safety, but also for the safety of the juveniles. We, therefore, direct the State Government to consider treating these persons, who are taking care of Juvenile Care Centres as 'frontline warriors', and vaccinate them so that they do not pass on the disease to the children, who are under their care."

In related news, dealing with a petition filed by under-trial prisoners, currently locked in the Central Jail-6 Tihar, seeking certain directions for the provision of certain facilities in the jail, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday (May 5) issued a slew of directions.

Considering that for inmates who are 45+ years of age, vaccines are already available and are with the Jail Superintendent, the Court directed that proper counseling be done for these inmates, and they be encouraged to take the vaccine, at the earliest.

Recently, It was informed by the DG Prisoners (to the High Powered Committee of the Delhi High Court ) that the jail staff was declared "Front Line Workers" and thus was directed to be vaccinated in the First Phase of Vaccine Drive against COVID-19.

"Members of the Committee have deliberated upon this issue and have resolved that all the jail inmates as well as jail staff are required to be vaccinated at the earliest so that the spread of COVID-19 inside the jail premises can be curtailed." The Committee resolved.

Further, dealing with a PIL filed regarding the state of prisoners amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday (May 6) issued a slew of directions.

The Bench directed the Jail Department and the Principal Secretary, Home / Prison, State of Uttarakhand, to ensure that the number of the prisoners being inoculated is drastically increased.

The Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir recently informed the High Court that it was taking all relevant steps to ensure that all prisoners, whether convicted or under-trial, are inoculated against the Covid-19 virus.

Also, the Orissa High Court recently passed significant directions to ensure that all inmates lodged in prisons of the State are vaccinated against the deadly Covid-19 virus.

A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar and Justice BP Routray was hearing two petitions concerning various issues persistent in the jails in Orissa.

The Gauhati High Court also asked the Assam Government to file its response on a suo moto PIL concerning jail inmates, who are allegedly not being vaccinated in the state.

Inter alia, the Division Bench at the Orissa High Court asked the State Government to work in coordination with the State Legal Services Authority and take time-bound steps for the remission of the sentences of prisoners found eligible for that benefit.

Case title - Lawyers Association, Guwahati v. The State Of Assam And 2 Ors.

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