PANAJI: Taking the Covid-19 vaccine is “voluntary” and has “no relation on continuation in government jobs”, the education department submitted to the high court of Bombay at Goa, denying that vaccination has been made compulsory for teaching and non-teaching staff.
In an affidavit, director of education Bhushan Savaikar submitted that the requirement of RT-PCR testing for persons who do not wish to get the vaccination is neither arbitrary nor irrational.
The high court is hearing a petition seeking that vaccination be made voluntary for teaching and non-teaching staff. The staff have alleged discrimination against them pointing out that vaccination has not been made compulsory for employees of any other government department, not even for healthcare workers in the state.
Savaikar told the court that “though vaccination is not mandatory”, “it is certainly encouraged, and the impugned circular is a means to encourage teaching and non-teaching staff to get vaccinated”. The fact that vaccination is not mandatory for medical staff cannot be ground to set aside and quash executive action of the state pertaining to teaching and non teaching staff, he submitted.
“… in matters of the pandemic and those involving public health, right of individual must yield to that of public interest. I further submit that when high risk to public health exists, erring on the side of caution is permissible. As such, I say that the impugned circular does not violate the Constitutional mandate and in particular Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India,” Savaikar submitted.
The circular was issued in “public interest” as well as “in the interest of the student community at large who are below 18 years of age” he stated.
“To the teaching and non teaching staff’s contention that they will have to bear the burden of Rt-PCR testing, Savaikar stated that the alleged financial burden on the individual petitioner has to yield to greater public interest. He also submitted that “when high risk to public health exists, erring on the side of caution is permissible
