PIL in SC seeks priority vaccination for journalists

Advocate Vishal Tiwari has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the governments to vaccinate media personnel on priority considering them as frontline workers. The plea also demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh for the kin of the journalists who succumbed to Covid.

New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court on Friday seeking directions to the Centre and states to vaccinate journalists and media personnel on a priority basis considering them frontline workers as they have worked throughout the pandemic to give news and latest updates to the public.

The PIL has been filed by Advocate Vishal Tiwari who contends that "broadcasting of news directly from the spot to make people aware about the present situation is a service of sacrifice and yet the government has not valued the lives of these unrecognised frontline workers".

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He states that media is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy and the information given by it helps people in making an informed decision and being aware of the current situation in the country.

Criticising the Centre, Tiwari said that despite journalists' tireless efforts the governments have failed to recognise them and many journalists have even lost their lives due to the pandemic.

The petitioner seeks an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh for the kin of the deceased journalists along with the launch of Covid vaccination drive for them on priority.

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Earlier during one of the hearings, former CJI SA Bobde, had said that journalists do not need to interact with people directly and can do without it. Court had considered making vaccination priority to judicial officers and workers as it felt they were more exposed.

For the past one year, the Court has been functioning through online mode and the staff goes to the court on a rotational basis to avoid congregation.

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