The Supreme Court will today hear the petition, seeking direction to consider journalists and mediapersons as ‘Frontline Workers’ and initiate priority vaccination for them.
The plea prayed for the following:-
i. Issue Writ/Writs including the Writ of Mandamus or any other writ or Direction in the nature, there of directing the Respondents to immediately enforce and initiate priority based vaccination drive through immediate policy, regulations for journalist, media personnel and their family and consider them as front line workers and to enforce their constitutional rights of health and safety.
ii. Issue Writ/Writs including the Writ of Mandamus or any other writ or Direction in the nature there of directing the Respondents to grant Ex-gratia Compensation of Twenty(20) lacs to the Next kin of those Journalist/Media personnel who have lost their lives as of Covid-19 while remaining Active in the Media Coverage during the pandemic in 2020 and in 2021.
iii. Issue Writ/Writs including the Writ of Mandamus or any other writ or Direction in the nature there of directing the Respondents to get an Specific insurance policy during Covid-19 for the Journalist/Media Personnel for the Safe future of them and their family;
iv. Direct the respondents to ensure that such directions are being kindly adhered at the ground level.