Gauhati HC stays Arunachal notification on non-issuance of permits to unvaccinated persons

The court held the particular clause of the notification violated articles 14, 19 (1) (d) and 21 of the Constitution that dealt with right to equality before law, freedom to move freely throughout India and right to life and livelihood respectively

Published on: Jul 21, 2021, 10:46:38 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The Itanagar bench of the Gauhati high court has stayed a notification issued by the Arunachal Pradesh government allowing the issuance of temporary permits to only those persons who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter the state for work.

Acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Madan Mili, a resident of Dibang Valley, justice Nani Tagia, in an order issued on Monday, stated that the notification discriminated between vaccinated and unvaccinated persons.

Clause 11 of the notification issued by Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary on June 30 stated that issuance of inner line permits (ILPs) needed to enter the state will remain suspended (till August 1), but temporary permits may be issued for developmental works in private and public sectors “provided such persons are vaccinated for Covid-19.”

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The court held the particular clause of the notification violated articles 14, 19 (1) (d) and 21 of the Constitution that dealt with right to equality before law, freedom to move freely throughout India and right to life and livelihood respectively.

“There is no evidence either on record or in public domain that Covid-19 vaccinated persons cannot be infected with Covid-19 virus or he/she cannot be carriers of Covid-19 virus and consequently, a spreader of Covid-19 virus,” the court order read.

“In so far as the spread of Covid-19 virus to others is concerned, a Covid-19 vaccinated or unvaccinated person or persons are the same. Both can equally be a potential spreader if they are infected with Covid-19 virus in them,” it added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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