"Make Provision For Giving Priority In Administration Of Covid Vaccine To Persons With Disabilities Above 18 Years": Gauhati HC Directs Arunachal Pradesh Govt

The Gauhati High Court, Itanagar Bench on Monday directed the State of Arunachal Pradesh to make provision for giving priority in attendance and administration of covid 19 vaccine to people with disabilities above 18 years of age within a period of 4 Weeks.Observing that persons with disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 would be entitled for administration. The Gauhati High Court, Itanagar Bench on Monday directed the State of Arunachal Pradesh to make provision for giving priority in attendance and administration of covid 19 vaccine to people with disabilities above 18 years of age within a period of 4 Weeks. Observing that persons with disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 would be entitled for administration of Covid-19 vaccine on priority basis, a single judge bench comprising of Justice Nani Tagia observed thus: "I propose to dispose of this Public Interest Litigation at the motion stage itself by directing the respondent authorities to make provision for giving priority in attendance and inoculation of the persons with disabilities, with Covid-19 vaccine, should the persons with disabilities above 18 years of age, volunteers for such vaccination, as mandated under Section 25 of the Act of 2016, within a period of 4 weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order which shall be furnished by the petitioner to the authority concerned within 7 days from today." In view of the aforesaid, the Court directed thus: "The appropriate Government is, thus, required to make a provision under Section 25 of the Act of 2016, for providing priority in attendance and administration of the Covid-19 vaccine to the persons with disabilities who are 18 years of age and above, should the persons with disabilities, volunteers to get themselves vaccinated."