Covid-19: Fix ratio for vaccination in an equitable manner, HC tells Chhattisgarh govt

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh high court has asked the state government to fix a reasonable ratio of allotment of vaccines to the ‘Antodaya group’ –the economically weaker section—the persons belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and persons Above Poverty Line (APL) for vaccination against Covid-19 for people of 18-44 age group.

Hearing a bunch of applications seeking intervention in a suo moto writ petition, a division bench of chief justice P R Ramachandra Menon and justice P P Sahu said the state shall fix a reasonable ratio for vaccines with reference to all the relevant aspects including the vulnerability, chance to spread the disease and the number of eligible persons in the group.

Accordingly, the high court directed the state government to have a discussion of the secretaries of the relevant departments at the higher level and to fix the ratio as above and distribute the vaccines in the third phase of vaccination for the age group of above 18 and below 45 years in an equitable manner.

The order said the implementation of state government order of April 30, stands modified to the said extent and shall be subject to the ratio of allotment to be made as above.

This shall be done and given effect to forthwith, the order said.

Regarding the sustainability of the order issued by additional chief secretary fixing priority for economically weaker sections in vaccination to protect the poor, illiterate and less fortunate citizens, the high court order said a scheme has to be formulated by the state by earmarking appropriate share of the vaccines to them as well and set up `Help Desks` providing spot registration and to administer vaccines to them, without compromising the right of the other segments who are entitled to have equal treatment with regard to the right to life.