Find ways to procure vaccines so that all can be vaccinated in 3-4 months: Allahabad High Court to Uttar Pradesh

The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure immediate procurement of vaccines so that everyone in the State can get vaccinated within 3-4 months time (In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres And For Providing Better Treatment To Corona Positive).If the authorities run late in vaccinating large number of population in the State, the real desired result of vaccination many not be achieved as the virus may achieve such mutations which may neutralize the vaccine also, the Court noted. The Court also said that the government should enter into direct dialogue with the producers because the tender 'process' is a long drawn procedure.Besides that, since large number of people are getting infected every day and the Scientists are of the view that third waive is almost at the door steps of India, it is necessary that government should enter into direct dialogue with vaccine producers with the help of Indian Diplomats in those countries, the Court said.."We, accordingly, direct the State Government to find ways and means to ensure immediate procurement of vaccines so that all in Uttar Pradesh may get vaccinated with its complete doses within 8 3-4 months time and tell us on the next date fixed how it proposes to expedite purchase of vaccines from global market," the Court ordered. .A Division bench comprising of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Siddhartha Varma was hearing suo moto proceedings initiated to examine Covid-19 situation across Uttar Pradesh..The Court in its order on Friday also directed all the District Magistrates to immediately dispose of the case properties like life saving drugs namely Remdesivir, Oxygen cylinders and oximeters and such other related articles within a week of the case being instituted before them..The Director General of Police was also directed to immediately issue advisory to all the Senior Superintendents/ Superintendents of Police regarding seizure of illegal articles."We also direct the Director General of Police to immediately issue advisory to all the Senior Superintendents/ Superintendents of Police in the State to direct the concerned police officers who have seized or would seize in future such articles from illegal possessions, to immediately within 24 hours of such seizure, approach concerned Magistrates for the disposal of such property and in the event they approach the concerned Magistrate, he shall 6 dispose of the case properties exercising power under Section 457 Cr.P.C. within three days thereafter in view of the current pandemic caused by Covid-19.".The Court accepted that the number of cases in Uttar Pradesh are declining but it added that "this is no time to relax as a lot of action is still needed to be taken more especially in the field of public health care, facility and overall public health infrastructure in view of the impending threat of a third waive of Covid-19 pandemic.".During the course of hearing, the Counsel appearing for State Election Commission argued that seventy-seven deaths have come to be reported so far from 28 districts and reports from other districts are still awaited. It was also submitted that the State Government has decided to give compensation of Rs. 30,00,000 to the family members of the deceased polling officers.On the question of role of the State Election Commission in conducting the elections more particularly in the face of current pandemic, the counsel for the Election Commission sought time till next Tuesday to study the matter and to address the Court on the said issue which was allowed. .The Court also directed the Additional Advocate General to apprise the Bench as to how the State Government has been dealing with the surge of pandemic in rural and sub-urban areas and smaller cities of the State. The case will be heard again on May 11. .[Read order]