Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government neither to relent on the vaccination drive against COVID-19, nor persuade people to take the jab or provide for disincentives on refusal.
“The State should not relent on the vaccination drive or trying to persuade people to take the vaccination or even provide for disincentives upon refusal,” the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh directed on Thursday, while dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) pertaining to the action taken by the State to deal with the pandemic.
“Since the number of covid cases in the State has been on the decline, let the matter appear in the first week of February, 2022,” the Court said.
During the course of hearing the PILon December 6 last, the Court had observed, “It appears that there are reservations in certain quarters regarding vaccination. The State should adopt an aggressive policy in undertaking awareness drives and trying to convince people to vaccinate themselves, not only for their own benefit, but also for the
protection of others.”
“The State says that vaccines are available in sufficient quantity. A detailed report as to the extent of vaccination conducted till the end of November, 2021 should be filed when the matter appears ten days hence,” the court had ordered.
The Court had also the directed the State government as well the District Councils and other authorities, including the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, also undertake a campaign to educate people and convince them to take the vaccination,” the HC said.
