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Hearing a batch of petitions the Calcutta High Court today pulled up the State Government about the lack of data viz. Covid-related deaths in the state. Bench said that 180 deaths is a low number & could not really be the true figure as deaths were surely much more.

“This propaganda won’t help anyone,” the bench said

The Court directed West Bengal Government to find out the maximum capacity of the Covid19 vaccination per day for the State. 

The court further directed the State to appraise the Court about how much infrastructure it has for vaccination on daily basis.

The Batch of petitions raised multiple issues before the court including the awareness of the public at large in State for the Covid19 insurance schemes, the fixed rates for availing various services for Covid 19 patients by the State Government and lack of payment of the compensations to the persons who either died or got infected on account of the covid19 virus.

The petitioners averred that in absence of awareness, persons are being overcharged. 

Addressing the grievances, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice (Acting) Rajesh Bindal and Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj ordered, 

" As far as the awareness issue is concerned, let the State Government issue public advertisements pertaining to the entitlement of the frontline workers about the Covid19 Insurance schemes.......so as to enable the frontlines workers and their family members to be aware of that and claim the compensation."

During the hearing, it was submitted by the State Advocate General that State's Covid19 scheme is applicable to the frontline workers. "in case of death, the sum of Rs 10 Lakh is paid to the family, whereas a sum of Rs. 1 Lakh is paid in case of the getting infected, " he added. 

"The rates fixed by the Government for availing various services for the Covid 19 patients be also be published for the awareness of the general public at large. In addition to that the places where normally the camps that are held for covid 19 vaccination drives by the Government should be made known to residents of that area......this will help reducing rush of the people who go to get the vaccine, " Bench added. 

Court also enquired about the collection of data regarding the effectiveness of the Covid19 vaccines. The bench said that we have noticed that it is being reported that many people are getting infected after receiving both doses of the Vaccines. 

Noting that the issue is pan-India, Court suggested that both the Governments (Union and State) should appraise the public about the ICMR portal which collects the infection data including the data getting infected after getting the vaccine adding that some authorized people should upload the data reducing the possibility of wrong data uploading. 

'It also has to be ensured that there are proper facilities for access to the persons with disabilities there (at the vaccination drive area) so that they do not face any difficulty."

"The inmates of the mental homes or any place where differently-abled persons are living should be done on priority," Court further ordered.

Upon inquiry of the Court, whether States has done anything for the third-gender also stating that usually, they live in clusters, the State AG replied that 8210 transgenders have been vaccinated as of now.