'Cannot Allow Them To Go Scot Free': Meghalaya HC Directs State Police To Apprehend Persons Spreading Rumours About Covid Vaccine Efficacy

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday directed the State police to take immediate action against people spreading rumours about the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccine on various social media platforms.

The Court was adjudicating upon a suo motu PIL concerning orders issued by the State Government making vaccination mandatory for shopkeepers, vendors, local taxi drivers etc. before they can resume their businesses. Earlier, the Court had ruled that mandatory or forceful vaccination does not find any force in law and hence are to be declared as ultra vires ab initio. It had then issued a slew of directions for encouraging vaccination among citizens and removing any apprehensions in this regard from their minds.

A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew on Monday took on record the status report filed by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya pursuant to its earlier orders. However, the Bench observed that the status report filed does not contain any information pertaining to the steps undertaken by the State police to penalise persons spreading false rumours about the efficacy of vaccines.

"Upon perusing the same it does not reveal any step taken by Meghalaya Police in order to specifically identify and book those persons who are responsible for spreading false rumours using various social media platforms with regard to the efficacy of the vaccines, in order to create an element of fear psychosis in the society, which is one of the primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the State of Meghalaya", the Court opined.

Furthermore, the Court observed that such 'rumour mongers must not go scot free' and accordingly directed the Meghalaya police authorities to apprehend such persons.

"They can be easily apprehended by the Meghalaya Police (provided it has the will to do so), since all of them are invariably using various social media platforms, thereby leaving an electronic trail", it added.

The Advocate General was ordered to take serious note of the matter and apprise the Court about the measures undertaken by the Meghalaya police in this regard on the next date of hearing. The matter is slated to be heard next on August 17. 

Case Title: Registrar General, High Court v. State of Meghalaya