Nagaon: Beneficiaries wait in a queue to receive COVID-19 vaccine dose, at a centre in Nagaon district of Assam, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (PTI Photo)
Shillong, June 24 (PTI): The Meghalaya High Court has asked all shops, business houses and commercial vehicles in the state to put on display the COVID-19 vaccination status of their employees at a "conspicuous" place to allow people make a conscious decision before using their services.
The court, which filed a suo moto PIL in the interest of common people, also warned of stern action against anyone involved in spreading misinformation on the vaccination drive.
A division bench of the high court, headed by Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder, said in its order on Wednesday, "At the outset, it must be stated clearly and unequivocally that vaccination is need of the hour - nay, an absolute necessity - in order to overcome this global pandemic which is engulfing our world."
It directed shops and business establishments to display "vaccinated" prominently at a conspicuous place only if the employees have taken the jab.
Similarly, in the case of local taxis, auto-rickshaws, cabs and buses, the court asked the owner to put up a sign with the vaccination status of drivers, conductors or helpers.
The bench, which has Justice HS Thangkhiew as its other member, further said that the dimension of the "vaccinated" or "not vaccinated" signboard, and the place where it could be affixed will be decided by the official concerned.
The suo moto PIL was filed after authorities in several areas asked shopkeepers, vendors, taxi drivers and others to get themselves vaccinated before resuming business.
If any service provider flouts the above directions, the state authorities shall immediately "direct its closure or stoppage of plying", the division bench said in its order.
On vaccine hesitancy, the court underscored that the Meghalaya government should be able to address the issue and inoculate all eligible persons within time frame.
"This Court shall monitor this issue closely so that the state government is able to overcome the vaccine hesitation problem at the earliest and all eligible persons in the state of Meghalaya are vaccinated well within the timeframe as may be specified by the state."
92% journalists in Tripura received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine: Official
Agartala, June 24 (PTI): More than 92 per cent journalists in Tripura have received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as a special initiative has been taken by the Agartala Press Club in collaboration with the state health department, an official said on Thursday.
There are more than 250 members of the press club here, and 750 more scribes are working in districts, he said. "Over 92 per cent of journalists and media personnel have been vaccinated through several camps organised across the state," the official said.
An immunisation drive was conducted on the premises of Agartala Press Club, its secretary Pranab Sarkar said, adding that one more camp will be organised soon to vaccinate the remaining journalists. Two working journalists in the northeastern state died of COVID-19 and 30 more have contracted the disease so far, he said.
The journalists'' body has also distributed masks and sanitiser among media personnel across the state as part of precautionary measures.
A team of the club has been monitoring the COVID situation in the state, he added.
Assam government frontline employees to receive salaries only if they are vaccinated
Guwahati, June 24 (PTI): The Assam government on Wednesday directed all departmental heads to ascertain the vaccination status of frontline government employees before releasing their salaries from this month.
Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, in an order stated that it has been observed that many frontline government employees have not yet taken the COVID-19 vaccine, irrespective of their registration in the COWIN portal.
The order came two days after the state administration said that it is mandatory for all workers of government and private enterprises, who have taken both doses of the vaccine, to attend office.
Non-vaccination of such frontline government employees may give rise to the possibility of further spread of the virus which, in turn, may endanger the risk of common citizens, especially the vulnerable groups like infants, pregnant women and others, the order issued on Wednesday stated.
"The state health department has arranged for large scale vaccination of all eligible age groups, both on and offline, and as such all departmental heads must ascertain the vaccination status of such frontline government employees before releasing the monthly salary/remuneration from the current month," it said.
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