The Meghalaya High Court has today directed the State government not to insist on mandatory Covid testing for persons who have been fully vaccinated already.
The division bench of the High Court passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Rockcliff Rapbor Roy Thabah.
The PIL alleged that mandatory testing was being conducted by the State government on persons who have not been vaccinated.
However, the High Court after perusing the various notifications and orders of the government said that it did not find any iota of arbitrariness or irrationality in respect of the action taken by the concerned authority of the State government.
“We make it clear that the concerned State respondents shall not insist on mandatory testing in respect of those who have been fully vaccinated already. However, it will be open to the concerned authority of the State to insist on conducting such tests as required and/or mandated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in respect of those who have not yet been fully vaccinated,” the High Court said.
The High Court also disposed off the PIL along with another connected miscellaneous application, being MC (PIL) No. 7 of 2021.
Meanwhile, in a separate suo motu PIL, the High Court has today directed the State government not to insist on production of Aadhaar card as the only proof of identity for persons who came for Covid vaccination.
The court said that there are other recognised options available to citizens of India to present their proofs of identity.
“In some places in the State of Meghalaya and particularly in remote villages, there are eligible persons who cannot be vaccinated simply because they do not possess any Aadhaar card. We would request the State not to insist on production of Aadhaar card as the only proof of identity since there are other recognised options available to citizens of India to present their proofs of identity,” the High Court said.
