Unvaxxed staff could face jail term: Delhi govt dept

NEW DELHI: Ten days after nearly two lakh people employed by Delhi government were barred from working without getting at least one shot of an anti-Covid vaccine, various departments have started issuing stern orders to employees. One department "clarified" that non-compliance of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) order can attract action, including prison term of up to a year.

The DDMA had issued an order on October 8, mandating employees in departments, autonomous bodies, PSUs, local and educational bodies under the Delhi government, to at least get the first vaccine dose by October 15.

DDMA order aims at 100% vaccination among govt staff
Unvaccinated employees were not allowed to attend office on October 16 and were told that the period of absence from duty till they get at least one dose, would be treated as "on leave".

The decision was taken in a meeting of the DDMA on September 29, 2021, aimed at ensuring 100% vaccination of all government employees, frontline workers, healthcare workers, teachers etc, who have frequent interaction with the public.

An employee's vaccination status was to be verified by the respective heads of department through a certificate of vaccination or the Arogya Setu app.

"All departments have to now compile this data and see that each employees is vaccinated. That is why all departments would issue orders to ensure that the staff is aware of the need to comply with the DDMA order," a Delhi government official said. "Most government employees, however, have been vaccinated at least with one dose," he said.

Departments that have issued orders in the last two weeks to branch in-charges to ensure compliance and verify vaccination certificates include labour, finance, directorate of audit, directorate of training and technical education.

In its order issued on Tuesday, the directorate of training and technical education stated that it had received references seeking clarification regarding the action to be taken against officials not complying with the DDMA directions and attending office after October 15 with getting a vaccine shot.

The directorate "clarified" that non-compliance with the DDMA order shall attract penal action under sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It stated that as per section 51(b) of the Act, whoever, without reasonable cause refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of central or state government under the Act can be punished with imprisonment of up to one year or fine, or both, if convicted.