Lekha G
The Orissa High Court headed by a Bench comprising Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice BP Routray heard a petition on May 12.
The petition sought judicial intervention to ensure vaccines for senior citizens with ailments and physically challenged people in consideration of the Supreme Court Order issued on April 30.
Assistant Solicitor General of India appointed for the Orissa High Court, PK Parhi said that he would seek particular instructions from the Union of India to ensure the availability of vaccines and the facility of vaccination to specific groups of people who are not in a position to approach the centres.
In light of the Supreme Court Order, the High Court said that, “It must be possible to broadly interpret the expression ‘the underprivileged’, in the context of issues raised, to include those who either due to age or disability or any other reason are unable to reach vaccination centres.”
The Bench further stated certain questions the Supreme Court had posed to the Centre regarding vaccine capacity and disbursal in the order passed on April 30.