Srinagar, June 30: The High Court Wednesday directed the government to take effective steps for vaccination of specially-abled persons in Jammu and Kashmir even as the court sought response from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and J&K Government on the plea seeking the vaccination.
While hearing the petition by Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, an NGO, bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey asked the government to take effective steps for vaccination of physically challenged persons as per the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The Court directed Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department to file response by July 8 indicating the steps taken for ensuring vaccination of the disabled persons in Jammu and Kashmir.
One Javed Ahmad Tak on behalf of Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, representing specially-abled persons has filed the petition seeking direction to treat all the persons with disabilities as special category and to ensuring their vaccination in terms of the policy of Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as also that of Government of J&K.
In the plea, the petitioner has made reference to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which enables all persons with disabilities certain benefits on priority basis.
On behalf of the petitioner, Advocate Syed Musaib submitted that despite making a representation to the government, no effective action was taken for vaccination of the disabled persons in Jammu and Kashmir, which, he said, formed a ground for seeking indulgence of the Court.
“The 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,” Musaib said.
Before proceeding further in the matter, the court said, it had become necessary to seek response from the government for the claim made in the petition.
The Court issued notice to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Jammu and Kashmir government seeking their response on the plea by July 8.