The Central government on Thursday told the Gujarat High Court that the Indian Airforce has sacked one of its servicemen for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Getting vaccinated against the virus has been made a service condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IAF corporal Yogendra Kumar at Jamnagar moved a plea in the Gujarat High Court on which Additional Solicitor General Devang Vyas in his submission to the Court said across India, nine personnel had refused to get vaccinated and they were given show-cause notices. The matter was heard by division bench of Justices AJ Desai and AP Thaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across India, only nine personnel have refused to take the vaccine. All of them were given show cause notice, one did not respond, so in view of the lack of response, his service is already terminated, Vyas told the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said as far as the vaccine in general is concerned, it is optional, but the Indian Air Force has made it mandatory and a service condition for its servicemen which is in continuation of the oath taken at the time of enrollment in the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vyas also said since corporal Yogendra Kumar has responded to the show cause notice, he can either appear before a proper authority or the Armed Forces Tribunal, under provisions of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cpl. Kumar had challenged the IAF’s show cause notice dated May 10, 2021, after his unwillingness to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Hearing his plea on Wednesday, the High Court directed the IAF to consider his case afresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read Also: Opposition leaders take out march against abrupt end to Parliament session, Rahul Gandhi calls it murder of democracy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The court disposed of his plea after ordering that the interim relief granted to the petitioner unwilling to get vaccinated shall continue until his case is decided by the IAF, and the same shall not be implemented for a period of two weeks from the date of service of the order to the petitioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cpl. Kumar also requested the court to direct the IAF to follow the central government’s order that the vaccine is purely voluntary and not mandatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other India news, the abrupt end to the monsoon session as the murder of democracy<\/a>, said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n