US Judge blocks Biden's federal vaccine mandate, rules it's 'beyond President's authority'

A federal judge in Missouri has issued an injunction against United States' President Joe Biden ministration's COVID-19 vaccination mandate for government contractors in 10 states. A preliminary injunction against order was upheld by US Magistrate Judge David Noce of Eastern District of Missouri, which was challenged by a state coalition le by Missouri.

Biden's ministration has attempted to encourage workplace vaccinations through a series of ministrative measures that affect government employees, Medicare and Medicaid providers, and firms with more than 100 employees. All of m are up against legal obstacles.

obligation for government contractors originates from Biden's executive order from September, which mandated that federal contractors follow workplace safety rules developed by a federal task force. With limited medical or religious exceptions, task committee released guidelines for new, renewed, or extended contracts to contain a clause mandating employees to be completely vaccinated by January 18, with limited medical or religious exceptions. 

new preliminary order prevents contractors' vaccine mandate from being enforced in 10 states that sued toger. It comes after a federal judge in Georgia ordered a countrywide injunction earlier this month. Initially, a Kentucky judge limited requirement's application to Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. On December 7, a Georgia judge sitting over a second complaint issued a countrywide injunction.

Vaccine requirement exceeds President's legal authority to set purchase restrictions: Judge Noce

most recent injunction, issued by US Magistrate Judge David Noce in anor complaint, applies in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. vaccine demand, according to Noce, likely exceeds president's legal authority to set purchase restrictions. According to him, federal standards for contractors often involve employee rights, compensation, and nondiscrimination policies.

" vaccine mandate would reach beyond workplace and into realm of public health. Court concludes that plaintiffs are likely to succeed on issue of wher mandate exceeds scope of power granted to President under federal law," Noce remarked, according to AP.

Or vaccine mandates proposed by Biden are in varying levels of implementation. On Friday, a three-judge panel of 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an injunction against a Biden's vaccine mandate requiring firms with more than 100 employees to have ir staff vaccinated or tested monthly and wear masks. However, Republican attorneys general, business associations, and a number of conservative organisations soon filed an appeal with United States Supreme Court.

Preliminary injunctions have put a stop to a separate demand that health personnel be vaccinated against COVID-19. Joe Biden's ministration, on or hand, has requested Supreme Court to overturn lower court rulings.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image: AP