Read Time: 05 minutes

Bombay High Court today asked Maharashtra Government as to why it could not implement door to door vaccination policy for bed ridden, specially abled and senior citizens if Kerala could implement the same. 

Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni while questioning Advocate Anil Sakhare appearing for Bombay Municipal Corporation said, “If Kerala can do it, other states can do it, why not Bombay? You said that if the Centre allows, you would go ahead with the same.”

Referring to various states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ranchi, Orissa wherein the State Governments are resorting to the administration of door to door vaccine, the Court to ASG Anil Singh appearing for the Centre asked to collect information from the State Governments to go ahead with the process. 

The bench also said that “Kerala did not wait for any PIL. You know COVID19 is our biggest enemy. In such matters, there is a surgical strike. The Central Government is waiting for the virus to approach & then vaccinate. That is the Central Govt's approach. You are making decisions but they are delayed.”

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in their affidavit filed yesterday, while coming up with a Standard Operating Procedure said that near to door vaccination would be an appropriate solution than door to door vaccination. 

“Near to home CoVID vaccination centres would include immunization jabs at non health facilities closer to home, like at community centres, school buildings and old age homes”, the centre in its affidavit stated.

Appearing as petitioner in person Advocate Dhruti Kapadia while referring to a news article wherein Kerala Government as a part of their decision to provide vaccination to bed ridden patients directed the Health Department to constitute house visit schemes submitted that the Bombay Municipal Corporation could also adopt a ward level scheme for administering vaccination to immobile and bed ridden persons. 

Advocate Kapadia also referred to some tweets wherein PRD East Singhbhum administered vaccines in villages on bikes to submit that, “We saw a tweet wherein vaccine is being administered from door to door through bikes & scooters. We can do this to cover slum areas.”

The Court thereafter directing the Counsel for Bombay Municipal Corporation and ASG Anil Singh to seek instructions have adjourned the matter for June 11, 2021. 

ALSO READ: Instead Of Asking Citizens To Rush To Vaccination Centres, You Chase Them And Get Vaccinated: Bombay High Court While Hearing Plea Seeking Door To Door Vaccination