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Maharashtra: Thane Standing Committee request vaccine centres inside residential societies

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covid centre

Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) Standing Committee Chairman Sanjay Bhoir requested the Municipal Commissioner on May 5, 2021 to allow for Covid-19 vaccination centres at the society-level to avoid crowding at government centres.

“We appeal to the TMC to speak to the central and state government to allow for vaccination camps to be set-up in individual societies under TMC’s jurisdiction,” said Bhoir in the letter.

Earlier, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) allowed big societies, clubhouses, industrial parks, banks, big companies to tie-up with Covid-19 hospitals to carry out the vaccination drive. Bhoir argued that if the TMC can similarly provide such camps in Thane’s society and clubhouses then both people over 18 years and the elderly can benefit greatly.

“With the help of special nurses and doctors’ associations such an initiative can greatly further the vaccination drive. People won’t have to stand in long lines and avoid crowding. The complaints about a lack of vaccines will also cease,” he said.

Thane citizens of late have complained about the long lines outside Covid-19 centres that hinder the vaccination process. Bhoir stated that this matter needs to be addressed fast in face of a potential third wave of coronavirus as well as this year’s monsoon season.

covid

Around two weeks ago, the TMC made preparations for two jumbo vaccination centres: one at Kausa stadium and the other at Vartak Nagar. Officials said the centres would follow the same model as the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) facility. But this does not negate the need for society-level centres.

On May 6, a stampede broke out at the BKC centre despite separate waiting areas and entry points for different age groups and citizens who registered via the Cowin app. People grew anxious as the day progressed with fights breaking out eventually resulting in pushing. As per a Newslaundry report, the unfortunate incident occurred due to a combination of vaccine shortage and unrest among citizens.

Even in Thane, around 40 out of 56 vaccination centres are functioning regularly due to limited supply. Residents, in some areas, reported groups of 500 people crowding local centres even before the work hours began, eager to avail the 50-100 daily vaccines distributed.

Related:

SII provides 3 lakh doses, vaccination for 18-44 age group to begin in Maharashtra

Covid-19: Trying times reveal how citizens are coping and helping one another

No space to bury the dead in Maharashtra

Covid-19: 71 Vaccination centres shut in Mumbai, shortages reported elsewhere too

Biden-Harris administration backs IPR flexibility for Covid vaccine

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biden

The United States has expressed support for waiving Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for Covid-19 vaccines. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai shared her country’s stand amidst World Trade Organisation (WTO) discussions on easing global trade rules to enable vaccine access to the developing world, saying, “The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines.”

This is significant because many pharma majors are reluctant to allow production of their vaccines in other countries or in facilities not owned or controlled by them. Pharma majors believe this would stifle innovation and disincentivise large investments into Research and Development (R&D). India has already been I the global crosshairs for its thriving generics market where Indian companies allegedly reverse engineer international drug formulations to produce cheaper variants. Thus, the anti-waiver stand of pharma countries and many wealthy nations had significantly reduced the quick and safe availability of high-quality vaccines at affordable prices to people in developing nations.

India has welcomed the Biden-Harris administration’s support for IPS waivers. In a statement released, New Delhi said, “We welcome the statement on US government on 5th May announcing their support for the initiative. We are hopeful that with a consensus-based approach, the waiver can be approved quickly at the WTO.”

India and South Africa had originally proposed the IPR waiver in October 2020. If the waiver was granted, it would allow countries who are WTO members to choose to neither grant nor enforce patents and other IP related to all Covid-19 drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and other technologies, including masks and ventilators, for the duration of the pandemic. This would provide countries with the policy space needed to collaborate in R&D, manufacturing, scaling up, and supplying Covid-19 tools. The proposed waiver would be applicable only to Covid-19. It does not suggest a waiver from all TRIPS obligations, nor does it suggest a waiver beyond what is needed for COVID-19 prevention, containment and treatment.

In November 2020, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique and Pakistan also backed this landmark proposal. But Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, UK and US were opposed to it at that time.

Just hours after Tai’s statement, other nations too started showing support for the idea. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told media persons, “The EU is also ready to discuss any proposal that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner.”  

Meanwhile, the EU is also sending medical aid to India in a humanitarian outreach program to help the country combat Covid that is spreading relentlessly. This includes medical equipment and medicines worth € 100 million.

 

 

Meanwhile, shortages of life-saving drugs and Covid vaccines continue in India where over 4 lakh fresh cases are being reported each day for the last one week, and as per government data, as of 8 A.M on May 7, there were 36,45,164 active cases of the disease.

 

 

 

Related:

Did Gujarat get preference over other states in Covid vaccination for 18-44 year olds?

SII provides 3 lakh doses, vaccination for 18-44 age group to begin in Maharashtra

How many Indian adults will manage to get the Covid-19 vaccine on May 1?

Siddique Kappan “secretly” discharged from AIIMS, taken to Mathura jail 

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Siddique Kappan

The Supreme Court Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and AS Bopanna had ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to shift Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan to a Delhi hospital for better medical treatment. Siddique had fallen in the bathroom jail and injured himself, however when he was taken to a Hospital in Mathura he was allegedly “chained to the bed like an animal” and was being ill-treated.

The SC had at that time said, “We direct that Siddique Kappan be shifted to RML Hospital, or AIIMS or any other government hospital in Delhi. After recovery, he can be sent back to Mathura Jail.” The SC was hearing an application filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) seeking Kappan’s transfer from the Mathura hospital to All India Institute of Medical Sciences or Safdarjung hospital in Delhi citing medical emergency. Kappan’s wife Raihanath, had also written to CJI Ramana for his intervention to release Siddique from the hospital and be sent to Mathura jail till his plea for release from jail was heard. On April 27, the top court had called for his medical records. 

Today, Raihanath told SabrangIndia that Siddique Kappan was discharged from AIIMS hospital in New Delhi, and taken back to the Mathura jail in Uttar Pradesh yesterday. “I only learnt about it late last night that he may have been discharged. I did not know any updates nor was his lawyer informed and he was shifted secretly at night,” said Raihanath. She added that “Kappan had tested Covid-19 positive at AIIMS even though the court in UP had been told he was Covid negative.” Raihanath said, “He was brought to hospital and since May 1 when I came to Delhi I had been trying to see him once.” She continued to believe he was still undergoing treatment at AIIMS hospital but soon learned that he had been moved back to jail, reportedly on the intervening night between Wednesday and Thursday. 

Kappan’s wife Raihanath told SabrangIndia that she and her elder son had come to Delhi, when they heard he had been tested Covid-19 positive in hospital. “I reached on May 1, and on May 2, I went to the AIIMS hospital to request them to let me see him once. At the ward the policeman stopped us. I tried for two hours just to see my husband. But they did now allow me.” The guard told Raihanath that the prison rules do not allow prisoners undergoing treatments to meet relatives or lawyers. 

According to a report in Maktoob, Raihanath’s younger two children and 90-year-old ailing mother had to be left behind in Kerala, when she rushed to Delhi. According to the report, Kappan’s lawyer Wills Mathews on May 4, filed an urgent application to the superintendent of Mathura jail requesting him “to give orders to the Director of AIIMS hospital and the police constables guarding Kappan to permit Raihanath and her son to meet Kappan during the visitor’s time between 4 P.M and 6 P.M.” The lawyer told the media that neither he nor Kappan’s family are aware of medical treatment given. According to the Maktoob report, the superintendent replied saying, “There is no provision in the UP jail manual which empowers the superintendent of the jail to allow the lawyer, prisoner’s wife or relatives to meet with the prisoner who is admitted in a hospital which is situated outside the jail”.

 Raihanath then approached the Mathura court seeking issuance of similar orders “to the jail superintendent of Mathura jail and the Director of AIIMS to grant her permission to meet her ailing husband on an urgent basis.” Raihanath reportedly got to know about her husband’s discharge around 10.30 P.M on May 6 report. She has alleged, “They discharged him without informing me or his lawyer. We are assuming that he was taken to Mathura jail. It can only be confirmed after talking to the jail superintendent.” 

 

Related:

Shift Siddique Kappan to Delhi for medical treatment: SC to UP Gov’t

SC seeks medical records of jailed journalist Siddique Kappan

Siddique Kappan ‘chained like an animal in hospital’: Wife writes to CJI Ramana

SC to consider Constitutional validity of Sedition law, issues notice

 

Delhi HC directs tele calling, video calls, Covid vaccination for Tihar jail inmates

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Tihar Jail

The Delhi High Court has issued a slew of directions in response to a petition filed by undertrials lodged in Tihar Jail seeking certain facilities amidst the Covid crisis.

The Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh gave directions on the petition filed by Natasha Narwal, on issues of tele-calling, vaccination of inmates, as also e-mulaqaats, monthly calling charges and intermingling. The bench had sought the state’s response on the same and upon perusal of the same as well as the submission of the petitioners, the court issued certain directions

Tele-calling facilities

The state informed the court that calling facilities were made available in all 3 wards including recovery ward, isolation ward and quarantine ward. However, the petitioners informed the court that there were restrictions on these calling facilities such as calls can only be made to postpaid numbers and not prepaid ones. The court thus waived off this requirement allowing calls to prepaid numbers so long as the number to which the said call being made is verified, and the person who is receiving the call is verified in some manner, to be a close relative of the inmate concerned.

Further, inmates in recovery/isolation/Covid-19 positive wards will be allowed daily calls for 5 minutes to allow them to update their family of their health. The court ordered that these directions be made operational within 2-3 days.

Vaccination

The court was informed that in the 45+ age group, 12 inmates have been vaccinated while the jail authority has received 136 doses. The non-administration of vaccine to the others was due to hesitance in the inmates to get vaccinated, non-availability of identity cards such as Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, and the non-availability of a mobile number which is to be put in the CoWIN portal.

The court stressed upon the necessity of vaccination considering the density of jail premises and directed the Jail Superintendent to give proper counselling to inmates for receiving the vaccine. The court directed that in absence of Aadhaar or PAN Card, Prison ID number may be used and in absence of mobile number of the inmate, number of a next of kin may be used.

The jail authorities ensured the court that all in the 45+ age group will be inoculated by May 31.

On the issue of vaccination of the 18-44 age group, the jail had not received vaccines so the court directed the Jail Superintendent to make a request within 2 days to the Disaster Management Office (West) which shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs. “The request of the Jail Superintendent shall be considered expeditiously, and the requisite vaccines shall be supplied within a period of 15-30 days, for the purpose of vaccination of the said group of 279 inmates who belong to the 18-44 age group,” the order stated.

E-mulaqaats

The court directed that e-mulaqaats or video-conference  should be allowed for inmates for half an hour once a week.

Monthly calling charges and intermingling

The court was informed that monthly calling charges have been waived off by jail authorities until May 31. Further, intermingling of the isolated/recovering Covid-19 positive patient is being completely avoided, and separate water facilities and other common facilities are being made available through dedicated staff to the recovery, Covid positive and isolation wards, the court was informed.

The court stated that directions with respect to remaining issues will be taken up on the next date of hearing, May 24. The court also directed that video-conferencing of the petitioners from jail should be allowed so that they can attend the next hearing.

The complete order may be read here:

 

Related:

Bom HC directs Centre and State to decide whether Aadhaar is mandatory for prisoners’ vaccination

No prisoner to be denied vaccination for not registering on COWIN portal: Odisha HC

Release prisoner arrested due to mistaken identity, pay 3 lakhs compensation: NHRC to UP gov’t

Bom HC grants bail to Reliance Energy worker accused under UAPA

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Bombay HC
Justice Bharati Dangre           Image: https://www.theleaflet.in

 

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to a contract worker with Reliance Energy charged for harbouring a terrorist, for illegally disrupting essential services and for being involved in activities of Communist Party of India (Maoist). The bench of Justice Bharati Dangre observed that since prima facie material was insufficient to establish charges against the applicant, Saidulu Narsimha Singapanga, he is entitled to bail.

Arguments

The counsel for the applicant, Sudeep Pasbola submitted that he was arrested much after the crime was registered, and is not named in the FIR and he is not charged under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). In fact, he submitted that the applicant was arrested based on an instance of mistaken identity, in place of one Saidulu Gondrigalla. The allegations against the applicant are that he deliberately and unlawfully stopped the work of Reliance Energy Company for one day which provides essential services and thereby acted by disrupting the essential services; that he harboured accused no.1 and helped in concealing his identity knowing fully of his terrorist activities, and that he told the contractors of Reliance Company that he is a Naxalite and thereby pressured them to provide financial help to the banned organization CPI(Maoist).

Pasbola submitted that none of the witness statements in the chargesheet implicate him under offences of the Unlawful Activities (prevention) Act (UAPA). He also submitted that he was never suspended by his employer, Reliance Energy, prior to his arrest. He further submitted that all other accused were enlarged on default bail and there was no cogent material against the applicant in the chargesheet, thus he should be granted bail.

The public prosecutor, Sharmila Kaushik, submitted that the material which has been seized from the applicant clearly pinpoint to his involvement and complicity. She further submitted that the applicant not only assisted the other accused but himself actively participated and involved himself in the meetings of the organisation, collecting and raising funds.

Court’s findings

Upon perusal of the materials against the applicant, the court was of the view that prima facie, the material was not sufficient to indict the applicant under UAPA. The court held that the material also does not indicate any act which causes or intended to cause disaffection against India. The court further observed that the existing material compiled in the chargesheet, do not support the case of harbouring accused no.1 at the instance of the applicant nor is the material sufficient to indict the applicant as a member of a terrorist gang or an organisation.

In the light of these observations, the court was inclined to grant bail to the applicant and held thus, “In absence of any cogent material being compiled in the charge-sheet, indicting the applicant for the charge levelled against him, particularly when all other co-accused are already released on bail, albeit default bail, the applicant in my considered opinion need not languish in prison any more in the wake of the material compiled against him.”

The applicant was granted bail on furnishing P.R. bond to the extent of Rs.50,000 with one or two sureties of the like amount. The court directed him to mark his presence in the Special court once a month and also at ATS police station, Kalachowki in the first weeks of every month. His bail was on the condition that he will not make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with facts of the case and will not tamper with evidence.

The order may be read here:

 

Related:

Bom HC issues notice in Fr. Stan Swamy’s bail plea; grants liberty to appear before vacation bench

Bhima Koregaon case: Bom HC seeks State’s response in Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson petitions

SC to consider Constitutional validity of Sedition law, issues notice

Hardly scope for getting first dose of vaccine: K’taka HC on vaccine shortage

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vaccine shortageRepresentation Image

The Karnataka High Court has brought its attention to the acute shortage of vaccines in the state, and has directed the state government to submit a requisition to the Centre and in turn directed the Centre to make a decision on it within 3 days.

The bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar has been consistently hearing matters related to Covid management in the state. On May 5, it focused on shortage of oxygen and Remdesivir in the state, and issued directions to that effect. The bench directed the Centre to increase oxygen allocation to Karnataka to 1200MT with immediate effect, on an ad hoc basis until Centre reconsiders its decision. With respect to Remdesivir, the court gave the Centre two days to reconsider its decision on allocation to the state.

LiveLaw reported that on the May 6 hearing, the bench observed that the scenario with respect to the vaccination is shocking. “Available doses of 7,76,675 will have to be given firstly to those beneficiaries who have taken the first dose and the requisite period of second dose as per notification of the Central government is likely to expire. Second priority can be given to health care workers and frontline workers. In short, in the situation that prevails today, it is virtually impossible in the state of Karnataka for citizens to get their first dose of vaccination unless they fall in the category of healthcare workers and frontline workers,” the bench reportedly said.

The court asked the state to ensure that it mentions in its requisition the number of beneficiaries who are likely to lose advantage of the first dose, if the vaccine is not administered to them immediately. Upon perusal of the state’s submission, the court concluded that there is hardly scope for administering the first dose of the vaccine. “We hope and trust that the central govt will consider this critical situation while dealing with the requisition made by the state government,” the bench said.

The state government informed the court that requisition has been made to private manufacturers on May 3, for supply of vaccine for the age group of 18 years to 44 years, and that so far vaccines have not been received for the same.

The court also directed the state government to ensure that assistance is provided to citizens in registration for the vaccine, especially the vulnerable sections, because unless they get registered, the object of vaccination will be frustrated. The court also questioned the state on how it plans to carry out targeted vaccination for class of workers such as sanitation and crematorium workers and sought a response by the next hearing.

Other issues

It was brought to the court’s notice by the counsels for one of the petitioners, that Covid was spreading unchecked in the slums of Bengaluru city. The court directed the state to file submissions with a scheme for preventing the spread in slums.

On being informed on the number of beds of various types in Bengaluru, the court deemed the situation to be grim. However, BBMP counsel assured the court that they were looking at each ward and monitoring availability of oxygen and said that 100 more oxygen beds were to be added in government run hospitals. The court sought to know all steps taken.

The court also questioned the state on the decisions taken to ensure food security of the vulnerable sections of the society.

The case will next be heard on May 11.

Related:

K’taka HC directs Centre to increase state’s oxygen quota

Karnataka HC slams Centre for not increasing oxygen quota despite state’s request

If drastic step is not taken, Covid situation will worsen: Patna HC

Madras HC appeals to Centre to ensure adequate oxygen supply to Tamil Nadu

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Madras High Court

The Madras High Court, on May 6, refrained from passing any directions to any authorities and took stock of the Covid situation in the state, while appealing to the Centre to take immediate steps to meet the needs of oxygen in the state. The bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy  was informed by officials that the reserves have been used up to the extent that there may be a further day’s reserve, but there may not be oxygen to supply in adequate quantity on Saturday.

The court identified that the main concern was oxygen supply to Tamil Nadu. The court was informed that the state has a production capacity of about 400 MT per day and that the south-western districts would be served by a Palakkad unit which would supply about 40 MT of oxygen per day. On the other hand, the daily requirement is 450MT.

In a meeting held on May 2, with the Centre and few other states, Tamil Nadu was allotted 475 MT of oxygen. However, in the allocation order issued on May 5, Tamil Nadu was not included.

It was further submitted that in the meeting, Tamil Nadu agreed to allow at least 25 MT of oxygen to be supplied by a plant in Sriperumbudur to Andhra Pradesh or Telangana in lieu of the supply from Palakkad, Kerala of 40 MT per day being retained. However, in the subsequent allocation order that was issued by the empowered committee put in place by the Central Government, not only did Tamil Nadu not figure, the Sriperumbudur allocation to Andhra Pradesh or Telangana was recognised therein, but the Palakkad supply to southern and western districts of Tamil Nadu found no mention. The officials informed the court that it is a critical situation and the reserves have been used up to the extent that there may be a further day’s reserve, but there may not be oxygen to supply in adequate quantity on Saturday.

The court said that in the present situation it is making an appeal for equitable distribution. “The Union and the empowered committee should take immediate steps in such regard to ensure adequate supply of oxygen to the State of Tamil Nadu to meet the needs. This must be ensured by tomorrow, so that the emergency that the officials speak of – of the reserves supply running out by Saturday – does not happen,” the court stated. The court also mentioned that the Sterlite unit is unlikely to produce oxygen till next week.

The court also suggested that the oxygen generating machines installed by Defence Research and Development Organisation should be installed in big cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai.

The officials informed the court that 95% percent oxygen beds remain occupied and measures have been initiated to augment bed capacity, including oxygenated bed capacity. The officials further informed the court that measures are being taken to set up centres in major cities, including Madurai and Coimbatore for release of Remdesivir directly to private hospitals or patient parties.

The court is also awaiting the inquiry report on the incident in Chengalpattu where 12 patients died.

While the court considered the submissions made by the petitioners, it was not inclined to pass any directions. It said, “It is not necessary to impose conditions on beleaguered officials and administration at this stage and to allow them to function as freely as possible and without directions of Court confusing matters”. The court only appealed to the officials to ensure that citizens’ needs are met and whatever is in the power of the authorities may be done to prevent further suffering.

The case will be next heard on May 12, if not required by any other untoward circumstances earlier.

The order may be read here:

 

Related:

Covid-19: Scientists say a third wave is inevitable; is India prepared?

Covid-19: Assam struggles as 90 Tea Garden workers test positive

Hauling up officers won’t bring oxygen: SC stays Delhi HC’s contempt notice to Centre

Centre moves SC against K’taka HC order to increase State’s oxygen quota

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oxegen
Image: Live Law
 

Aggrieved by the order passed by Karnataka High Court directing increase in oxygen quota of the state, the Central government has moved the Supreme Court.

On May 5, the Karnataka High Court directed the Centre to increase oxygen allocation to Karnataka to 1200MT with immediate effect, on an ad hoc basis until Centre reconsiders its decision. The court stated that it had no option but to issue a mandatory direction to the Centre to consider the state’s requisition made on April 30 and meanwhile directed the state to submit a fresh representation on requirement for the 7 days.

The Centre had increased the state’s allocation based on its representation made on April 30, from 802MT to 865 MT, and after the court’s notice on May 4, the allocation was increased to 965MT. The requirement was however, about 1700MT.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the Special Leave Petition filed by Centre before a bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud but he was told to mention it before the bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, reported LiveLaw.

Related:

K’taka HC directs Centre to increase state’s oxygen quota

Karnataka HC slams Centre for not increasing oxygen quota despite state’s request

If drastic step is not taken, Covid situation will worsen: Patna HC

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