The Chhattisgarh High Court disposed of a suo motu PIL related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prafull N. Bharat, Senior Counsel appearing as amicus curiae, submitted that the basic purpose of this suo motu PIL was for protecting the people of Chhattisgarh from the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
He further submitted that the purpose for which the PIL was registered has already been served.
It has also been brought to the notice of the High Court that in compliance of the earlier orders dated 28-10-2021 and 9-11-2021, affidavit has been filed by the Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, stating that the targeted population for vaccination is 1,96,51,000 and as on 9-11-2021, first dose of vaccination has been administered to 1,62,07,725 persons which is 82.47% of the targeted population.
Similarly, as on 9-11-2021; 77,60,713 of second done has been administered to the targeted population which comes to 39.49% of the total targeted population of the State of Chhattisgarh. The second dose of vaccination cannot be administered to a person unless and until the period as per the protocol is over.
The amicus curiae brought the attention of the Court to the affidavit dated 10-9- 2021 filed by the Principal Secretary, Law & Legislative Affairs, in which it has been stated in paragraph 4 as under: –
“In future on receiving requisition of Chhattisgarh State Bar Council for release of funds from Mukhyamantri Swechanudan Fund for dependents of deceased advocates, efforts shall be made to take final decision within 90 days from the date of receipt of such requisition.”
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Sunil Otwani, Additional Advocate General who appeared for the State, reiterated that the affidavit given by the Principal Secretary, Law & Legislative Affairs will be honoured by the State Government.
The Division Bench of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal and Justice Arvind Singh Chandel observed that since the State has already given undertaking that on receiving requisition of Chhattisgarh State Bar Council for release of funds from Mukhyamantri Swechanudan Fund for dependents of deceased advocates, decision will be taken within 90 days from the date of receipt of such requisition, nothing further survives for consideration in the PIL as the said undertaking will be honoured in its letter and spirit by the State Government.
With this observation and direction the High Court disposed of the PIL.