The Delhi High Court has on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking directions to immediately vaccinate children between ages of 12-17 years of age in Delhi and prioritize the vaccination amongst the parents bearing children who belong to the same aforementioned age group, especially small children-new born to 12years of age in view of the surge in Covid 19 cases.
A bench headed by the Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh has sought the response of the Centre and the Delhi Government and list the matter for hearing on June 4.
The petition has been filed by legal guardians of minors through Advocates Bihu Sharma and Abhinav Mukerji. The Petitioners stated that the second wave of covid19 has not only shook the entire nation but has also affected children, too and notably recognizes in his petition that the Vaccine Policy of India against the virus and not precariously weighed the vulnerable plight of the children and their parents who are at higher risk
The PIL avers that the Respondents have not dealt with the situation diligently and have failed miserably to prepare a National Plan for children coherently in accordance to the Disaster Management Act 2005, which recognize children and tehri vulnerability during a “biological health emergency”, such as the current pandemic.
The PIL states that the children have been abridged of their fundamental rights under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India which equally apply to the children as the Constitution recognizes their importance and have made various provisions to nourish the children.
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Petitioner submitted that the biggest problem with this generation is that they are being confined to the house and even given any priority. By the sensex the age group of 12 -18 constitutes almost 60 % of our population. They are not getting any protection from the Covid. This is going to make things very difficult as we go in the future. The entire policy of gov is for those who are above 18. We are not going to protect the large population of our country the rest 17 or 20 % population will have no future. This age group is receiving no benefit at all except keep them away from school and that is not an answer.