"Take Effective Steps As Per Centre's Guidelines For Vaccination Of Disabled Persons In Union Territory": Jammu & Kashmir High Court

Issuing notice in a plea seeking vaccination for the disabled persons as a special category, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to take effective steps as per Centre's guidelines for vaccinating such persons.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey also directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir UT to file an affidavit by the next date of hearing indicating steps for Vaccination of disabled persons in the UT.

"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.

The development came in a plea filed on behalf of Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, representing specially abled persons seeking direction to the respondents to treat all the persons with disabilities as special category and to ensure vaccination of such persons in terms of the policy of Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as also that of Government of Union Territory of J&K.

Relying on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which enables all persons with disabilities certain benefits on priority basis, the petitioner submitted before the Court that despite having approached the respondents by making representations, no effective action has been taken for vaccination of the disabled persons in the Union Territory.

Furthermore, it was stated that vaccination of the persons with disabilities has become necessary because of threat to their life on account of large number of them getting tested positive because of not being able to adhere to the SOPs.

Hearing the submission, the Court issued notice in the plea and ordered thus:

"The Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department shall file affidavit, indicating therein the steps for ensuring vaccination of the disabled persons in the Union Territory of Jammu andKashmir. The affidavit shall be filed by or before next date of hearing."

The matter will now be heard on July 8.

Title: Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline v. Union of India & Ors.

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