Alka Verma –

Published on: September 1, 2021, at 19:21 IST

Recently, Meghalaya High Court asked the State Government not to make Aadhaar Card the only identity proof for Covid-19 vaccination.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew stated that there are many other options available as proof of identity.

The Bench also held that the current method of State Government is somewhat acting as a hurdle to those who don’t have a Aadhaar Card but are eligible to get vaccinated.

“In some places in the State of Meghalaya and particularly in remote villages, there are eligible persons who cannot be vaccinated simply because they do not possess any AADHAAR Card. We would request the State not to insist on production of AADHAAR Card as the only proof of identity since there are other recognized options available to citizens of India to present their proofs of identity,” stated the Bench.

The Court was hearing a Suo Motu PIL.

The PIL was regarding the orders passed by the state which make it mandatory to get vaccinated for vendors, drivers, etc. to resume their work.

It was also noted that eligible people are not getting vaccinated because they don’t possess any Aadhaar Card and this population was particularly from the remote area of Meghalaya.

The Court also decided to keep an eye on this matter so that the problem gets solved at its earliest and all the eligible people can get vaccinated as soon as possible.

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