A Division Bench of the Madras High Court, comprising of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy in the case of M. Muruganantham v. The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors. has directed the State Government to ensure that no destitute should be left out from the vaccination as they are more prone to contracting the COVID-19 virus.
The Bench expressed that,
“no destitute or homeless or pavement dweller or another citizen of a similar kind residing in the State is left out in the vaccination drive and all Corporations, Municipalities and Town Panchayats should be sensitized by the department to ensure that these vulnerable persons be regarded as candidates for immediate urgent vaccination since they stand more exposed than other citizens to contract the virus.”
Factual Background
The Petitioner named M. Muruganantham had filed a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to offer temporary shelters or blankets to the homeless residing in Chennai City until March 2019.
Court Reasoning & Judgment
The Court looked into the report submitted by the Principal Secretary to the Government in the Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department and opined that nothing further requires to be done as regards this petition.
The Report submitted by Principal Secretary highlighted the Deendayal Antyodhaya Yojana, which is the National Urban Livelihoods Mission, which has been implemented in 664 urban local bodies, including 15 Corporations, 121 Municipalities, and 528 Town Panchayats. The report also refers to a Project Sanctioning Committee overseeing a scheme for the urban homeless in terms of a Government notification of May 7, 2014, as amended by a notification of October 27, 2017.
The Court expressed its satisfaction that the State has a program to ensure that all such vulnerable persons are vaccinated as expeditiously as possible. Therefore, The Court disposed of the petition and requested the respondent authorities, to ensure that no destitute or homeless or pavement dweller or another citizen of a similar kind residing in the State is left out in the vaccination drive.
Case Details
Case:- W.P.No.34315 of 2018
Petitioner:- M.Muruganantham
Respondent:- The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors.
Counsel for Petitioner:- Mr. M. Muruganantham
Counsel for Respondent:- Mr. P. Muthukumar
Judge: Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy
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