Specify Steps Taken For Vaccinating Pakistani Minority Migrants, Provide Them Ration Immediately: Rajasthan High Court To Govt.

The Bench of Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Rameshwar Vyas further directed the State Government to specify regarding vaccination of those persons who are not having the prescribed identity cards (including Pakistani Minority Migrants).

The matter before the Court

It was submitted before the Court that on account of strict COVID lockdown in the State, the Pakistani Minority Migrants staying in various camps in Jodhpur have no arrangement to fulfill their basic needs like food, water and primary medical health facility.

It was specifically mentioned that during this second wave of COVID-19 Pandemic, on account of strict restrictions imposed by the State Government, the ration and other essential items have not reached up to the Pakistani Minority Migrants.

It was also stated that in the absence of an Aadhar Card and other documents, the eligible Pakistani Minority Migrants are deprived of COVID-19 vaccination, which is very essential for every human being.

State's submissions

It was submitted on behalf of the State Government that during the lockdown imposed due to the first wave of COVID-19, these Pakistani Minority Migrants were provided ration kits by the State Government as well as by some NGOs and social organizations.

It was further submitted that so far as the present time is concerned, the State needed some time to apprise the Court about the availability of ration to these Pakistani Minority Migrants.

It was also submitted by the AAG that so far as the vaccination of the eligible Pakistani Minority Migrants was concerned, they have already requested to the Central Government to frame a policy in this respect and the needful will be done as soon as instructions will be received from the Central Government.

To this, the Central Government submitted that it had already issued an SOP on COVID Vaccination of persons without having prescribed identity cards through CoWIN.

Court's observations

At the outset, the Court observed,

"So far as the process of COVID-19 vaccination of the persons, who are not having prescribed identity cards, is already detailed out by the Central Government and now, it is for the State and District Administration to chalk out a plan for vaccinating the Pakistani Minority Migrants."

Regarding the issue of non-availability of ration to the minority migrants, the Court called it a "serious" matter and observed that no person residing in the State can be allowed to starve due to non-availability of food.

Further, the Court directed the State Government to furnish a report regarding the availability of ration to the Pakistani Minority Migrants residing in Jodhpur by tomorrow.

The District Collector, Jodhpur has been directed to personally monitor the situation and make sure that ration be made available to them immediately.

AAG has been directed to apprise the Court that what steps the State and District Administration have taken in pursuance of the SOP dated 06.05.2021 issued by the Central Government regarding vaccination of those persons who are not having the prescribed identity cards.

The Central Government has also been directed to furnish a factual report regarding the availability of vaccines to the State Government for persons who are not having prescribed identity cards by tomorrow.

The matter has now been listed for further hearing tomorrow.

Case title - Suo Moto v. Union Of India And Anr. [D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 10075/2017]

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