The Delhi High Court on Tuesday has directed the Delhi Government to treat a plea as a representation seeking directions for conversion of open spaces for eg. vacant stadiums and for setting up of drive-in vaccination centres in Delhi according to the government policies and rules.
The petitioner has submitted that the citizens can drive into a vaccination centre and get themselves vaccinated without coming in contact with others and maintaining social distancing, similar to the ones set up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh has asked the Delhi Government to consider the pleas made in the Writ Petition as a representation filed by Delhi based trader Amandeep Aggarwal.
The Petitioner has filed the present petition seeking conversion of open spaces for eg. vacant Stadiums and seeking a direction to the Government to set-up drive-in vaccination centres in Delhi whereunder the citizens can drive into a vaccination centre and get themselves vaccinated without coming in contact with others and maintaining social distancing, similar to the ones set up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai.
A.S. Chandhiok, Senior Advocate, and Advocates Rushab Aggarwal and Priyanshi Chokshi appeared for the Petitioners. Counsel for the Petitioner, Rushab Aggarwal, has submitted before the Court that similar drive in vaccination centres had been implemented in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orrissa.
The Petitioner has submitted in his petition that Covid 19 is an unprecedented pandemic which has claimed more than 2.34 Lakh lives in India and more than 32.6 Lakh lives across the globe. In the month of January, 2021, two Vaccines – namely COVISHIELD – ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (manufactured by the Serum Institute of India) and COVAXIN (manufactured by Bharat Biotech) received approval for use.
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The administration of vaccine for COVID -19 in India, was opened in a phased approach. With effect from 01.05.2021, the Vaccine was made open to all persons above 18 years of age. Delhi is experiencing the second wave of COVID-19 in Delhi, whereunder the infection has exponentially multiplied wherein and on an average more than 25,000 new cases are being reported daily. A lockdown has been imposed in the National Capital Territory of Delhi w.e.f. 19.04.2021. However, purpose of imposing a lockdown would be defeated on account of crowding at vaccination centres and hospitals.
Drive-in vaccination centres will encourage people to get vaccinated at the earliest without compromising themselves from coming in contact with other citizens.