Shillong, Aug 24: The High Court of Meghalaya has ruled that the state government should not insist on mandatory testing in respect of those who have been fully vaccinated.
“ 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”, said the division bench comprising Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder and Justice HS Thangkhiew.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by Rockcliff Rap Bor Roy Thabah against the state government.
The PIL was moved alleging mandatory testing being conducted by the concerned state respondents in respect of those who are not vaccinated.
“However, upon perusing the various notifications and orders annexed to the instant writ petition, we do not find any iota of arbitrariness or irrationality in respect of the action taken by the concerned authority of the state pursuant to issuance of such notifications and orders”, the court said.
Govt asked not to insist on Aadhaar card
The court has asked the state government not to insist on Aadhaar card as the only proof of identity for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Hearing the pending PIL, the division bench said one observation is required to be made in respect of the vaccination policy presently adopted by Meghalaya.
The court said that in some places in the state 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 bench said.
