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 The court issued notice to the centre as the matter involves access to vaccination of persons with disabilities.

The Supreme Court today issued notice to the centre in a writ petition filed by EVARA foundation seeking administration of COVID-19 vaccines to persons with disabilities and their care givers at their place of residence.

The bench consisting of Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna also requested  Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta to assist the court in the matter.

Pankaj Sinha, Advocate, who appeared for the petitioners prayed before the court to issue notice to the States.

However, Justice Chandrachud, citing that the matter involves vaccination of persons with disability issued notice to the Centre and sought its response while also requesting the SG to assist the court in the matter.

According to the petition, organisations such as Centre for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Lancet international have published reports citing that persons with disability are at a higher risk of contracting the virus than the others. The petition further states that there are some families with more than one person with disability who find it difficult to visit the vaccination centres. It further cites that the lockdown imposed by States on account of COVID-19 has made it even the more difficult for persons with disabilities to visit vaccination centres.

The petition cites Section 25 of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 to establish that the government is duty bound to make medical facilities accessible. It is urged in petition that the vaccination program can be carried out by the States using the Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) with the help of Anganwadi or Asha workers. The petition further states that countries like the United Kingdom (UK) and Israel are already carrying out special programs to vaccinated persons with disabilities.

[With inputs by Gautam Mishra, Special Correspondent]

Case Title: Evara Foundation Vs. Union of India & Ors.