This is an archive article published on May 19, 2021
Bombay HC pulls up Centre for hesitancy in adopting door-to-door vaccination policy
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish S Kulkarni was hearing PIL, filed by city-based lawyers Dhruti Kapadia and Kunal Tiwari, seeking directions to the Centre, the Maharashtra government and the BMC to provide door-to-door vaccination facility to those aged above 75, the specially-abled and the bed-ridden.
Beneficiaries receive their dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Mumbai. (PTI)
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre for not adopting the door-to-door vaccination policy for the elderly and the specially-abled. It said if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) comes up with a door-to-door vaccination proposal, the court will “allow them despite the Centre’s policy of not permitting it” at the present stage.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish S Kulkarni was hearing PIL, filed by city-based lawyers Dhruti Kapadia and Kunal Tiwari, seeking directions to the Centre, the Maharashtra government and the BMC to provide door-to-door vaccination facility to those aged above 75, the specially-abled and the bed-ridden.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh for the Centre said an expert committee was appointed to examine the proposal for door-to-door vaccination for the elderly and the specially-abled. He added that the committee proposed strategies which included community-based outreach sessions to be organised in urban and rural areas to provide the jabs in a de-centralised manner, while transportation facilities can be extended to support the elderly residing nearby.
The HC, however, was not convinced by the suggestions and termed it to be opposite to the door-to-door vaccination plan. It said it was unable to find a reason as to why the expert committee of the Centre had felt that it was not feasible to carry out door-to-door vaccination with due medical care.
CJ Datta asked the Centre, “I am not much aware of the situation in Mumbai, but in North Kolkata, there are buildings wherein even stretchers cannot be taken inside. If somebody is bedridden and there is no room for stretcher to manoeuvre, how will you bring them outside for vaccination? Are they not entitled?”
Justice Kulkarni said there are old buildings in congested areas with wooden staircases even in Mumbai and the elderly there may not be able to come out for vaccination.
The HC observed, “They (committee members) are all academic experts, but they seem to have zero knowledge about ground reality. If this decision is taken from Delhi, you (Centre) should think about the local situation….If the corporation wants to start door-to-door vaccination, we will allow them despite the Centre’s policy of not permitting it. It can come to the help of old residents.”
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It directed the BMC Commissioner to inform it as to whether it was possible for the civic body to introduce door-to-door vaccination “under proper medical care and upon consent of citizens/beneficiaries to be administered being well aware of the consequences”.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
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