Covid-19 Vaccines Not Available For Age Group 18-45: Allahabad High Court Directs State Counsel To Seek Instructions From UP Government

The order has been passed by a Division Bench comprising of Justices Rajan Roy and Saurabh Lavania on a PIL filed by Advocate Hari Prasad Gupta.

The Bench noted that the petition raises certain "important issues" pertaining to the provision of medical facilities and services to the public at large, as also the lawyers and their wards.

"Though the Government has announced for vaccination for the persons of the age-group of 18-44 years, but fact of the matter is that vaccines are not available for this age group," the Petitioner had submitted.

He also stated that:

• In the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic, once a person was detected as Covid Positive, then the Government Functionaries used to provide the medicines etc. at the home in case of Home Isolation, free of costs. However, during this second wave which is still going on, this facility is not being provided.
• In the first wave when a situation arose on account of lock-down that Covid-19 infected person were not able to go outside from their house to purchase essential food items for their daily survival, Administration used to make arrangements for providing ration, but during this second wave this is not being done.
• In the first wave the Para-Medical Staff after completing their duty for the day were being lodged in Hotels or Guest Houses, as the case may be, so that they may not spread the disease, if they had to return to their homes, but during this second wave this arrangement has not been made consequent to which Para-Medical Staff goes back to his or her home after completing the day's duty which has contributed to the spread of Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Court noted that the Principal Bench of the High Court at Allahabad is already considering similar issues in its suo moto PIL pertaining to Covid-19. However, certain issues raised in the instant petition need to be taken note of.

Therefore, keeping the question open as to whether this petition should be entertained and proceeded or the Petitioner should be asked to intervene in the proceedings pending at Allahabad, the Division Bench has asked the Additional CSC to seek instructions.

"Let Sri H.P. Sriastava, Addl. C.S.C. seek instructions in the matter on the aforesaid points," it ordered.

The matter is now listed for hearing on May 21.

Related News

Amid the rampant shortage of vaccine doses across the nation, the Allahabad High Court recently said that it is unable to understand as to why the Government is not trying to manufacture the vaccine itself on a large scale. It suggested that big medical companies which are working in the country and may not have their own vaccines—may take the formula from just any of the vaccine manufacturers in the world and start producing the vaccine.

Case Title: Hari Pasad Gupta v. State of UP & Ors.

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