Image Courtesy:barandbench.com
The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Union and the Delhi government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to ensure sufficient supply of Covid-19 vaccines to the National Capital.
Bar & Bench reported that a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued a notice after the counsel for the petitioner contended that for people in the age group of 18 to 44 years, registering for the ongoing vaccination drive is equivalent to “losing in battle of fastest finger first”.
The 43-year-old petitioner claimed that over the past few weeks, he has not been able to book a slot for the first dose of vaccine due to non-availability. The Court was informed that each time the petitioner tried to book a slot, the same was booked by someone else. A grievance was also raised that the registration portal does not allow a person to book slots 3 to 4 days in advance, which creates panic amongst Delhi residents.
He has asserted through his plea that while the Central government and the Delhi government have been making contradictory statements and blaming each other, his concern is to protect his health and well-being during the pandemic.
According to a Bar & Bench report, his plea reads, “The Chief Minister of Delhi, the Health Minister of Delhi, MLA Ms. Atishi are claiming that they are not left with vaccination beyond 3 to 4 days. If it is so, then the lives of the residents of Delhi are in extreme danger. But on the other hand, the respondent No. 1 (Centre) is speaking otherwise. It is utmost important to fix the accountability for such contradictory statements. That the petitioner being resident of Delhi, is entitled to be vaccinated for Covid-19 and has no concern with disputes between respondent no.1 and 2 (Delhi government). Neither the petitioner nor any resident of Delhi should suffer in the blame game between the respondent no.1 and 2.”
The petitioner has therefore prayed for initiation of an inquiry by a committee headed by a retired judicial officer or senior advocate or any respectable person, in order to find out which of the two governments is making “false statements” to the public.
The matter will be taken up on June 4.
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