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'Dabbawalas are at frontline too': Bombay HC pulls up 'selfish' PIL for vaccine
Replying to a similar plea in the Delhi high court to declare all people associated with the judiciary as frontline workers, the Centre said the priority is not based on profession, but on the vulnerability of a specific group to Covid-19.
The Bombay high court on Wednesday termed public interest litigation seeking priority vaccination for lawyers and judges 'selfish' and said some decisions must be left to the "executive's wisdom". The PIL was filed by a group of Mumbai-based lawyers who appealed that members of the judiciary, including staff, should be vaccinated first.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni heard the plea and said that many others like sanitation workers and staff of private organisations also continued to work amid the pandemic.
"Why not file a PIL for the staff of private organisations, dabbawalas? That way everyone is a frontline worker," the bench said.
"Something should be left for the executive's wisdom. Tell us what is wrong with the policy? A policy decision cannot be interfered with by the court unless there is arbitrariness," it said.
SC seeks Centre’s response over priority Covid vaccination for judges, lawyers
"Have you seen the movie 'Titanic'? Do you recollect captain of ship? He has to wait till others are evacuated. First, everyone gets it and then the judiciary. I am the captain here," Chief Justice Datta said.
The vaccination drive in India began on January 16 first priorities given to healthcare workers and other frontline workers, including municipal workers, police, defence personnel etc. In the second phase, which began from March 1, senior citizens and people between the age group of 45 and 59 with comorbidities are given priority. Supreme Court judges, as all of them except one are aged above 60, are being considered in the second phase.
A PIL has also been filed in the Delhi high court demanding to declare all people associated with the Judiciary as frontline workers. Replying to a notice in connection with that PIL, the Centre on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that the decision on who will get vaccines on priority was taken not based on profession, but on their vulnerability to the disease.
(With agency inputs)
