We can’t be mute spectators when rights of citizens are infringed: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday called the Centrersquos policy of charging citizens in the 1844 years age group for Covid19 vaccination ldquoarbitrary and irrationalrdquo and observed that immunisation is the governmentrsquos ldquosingular most important taskrdquoReferring to Rs 35000 crore earmarked in the Budget for Covid19 management the SC asked why it cannot be used to vaccinate the 1844 years age group free of cost It also sought to know how this fund has been spent so farldquoPolicy of Centre for conducting free vaccination for groups under first two phases and replacing it with paid vaccination by statesUTs and private hospitals for persons in 1844 years age group is prima facie arbitrary irrationalrdquo the Times of India quoted a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud LN Rao and S R Bhat as sayingldquoThe Liberalised Vaccination policy does not prioritise persons with comorbidities and other diseases persons with disabilities or any other vulnerable groups This is especially at issue because the experience of the second wave of the pandemic has provided experiential learning that the Covid19 virus is capable of mutation and now poses a threat to persons in this age group 1844 as wellrdquo the bench addedldquoOur constitution does not envisage courts to be silent spectators when constitutional rights of citizens are infringed by executive policiesrdquo NDTV quoted the SC as sayingMamata Banerjee chief minister West BengalThe SC has asked the Centre to place on record all relevant documents and file notings reflecting its thinking culminating in the Covid19 vaccination policy and the purchase history till date of all jabs including Covaxin Covishield and Sputnik VThe bench noted that the Centre in its May 9 affidavit stated that every stateUT shall provide vaccination free of cost to its population and said it is important that individual governments confirmdeny this position before the apex courtldquoFurther if they have decided to vaccinate their population for free then as a matter of principle it is important that this policy is annexed to their affidavit so that the population within their territories can be assured of their right to be vaccinated for free at a State vaccination centreldquoHence we direct each of the StateUT Governments to also file an affidavit within 2 weeks where they shall clarify their position and put on record their individual policiesrdquo the bench saidIt also asked the Centre to specify the steps being taken by it to ensure drug availability for mucormycosis or black fungus The top courtrsquos order came in suo motu case on Covid19 management It listed the matter for further hearing on June 30lsquoSubmit all documents within 2 weeksrsquoIn its May 31 order uploaded on Wednesday on its website the Supreme Court directed the central government to submit the affidavit within 2 weeks The bench asked the Centre to ensure that each issue dealt by it in the order is responded to individually The details sought by the SC aregtgt Complete data on the Centrersquos purchase history of all Covid19 vaccines till date Covaxin Covishield and Sputnik V Should clarify a the dates of all procurement orders placed by the Centre for all 3 vaccines b the quantity of vaccines ordered as on each date and c the projected date of supplygtgt Data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated with one and both doses this shall include data on rural as well as urban populationgtgt An outline for how and when the Centre seeks to vaccinate the remaining populationDCGI eases norms for foreignmade vaccinesThe Drugs Controller General of India DCGI has waived the requirement of testing every batch of foreignmade Covid19 vaccines by the Central Drugs Laboratory Kasauli and postlaunch bridging trials for such firms a move that will bolster availability of vaccines The decision comes in the backdrop of Pfizer and Cipla putting forth similar demands during negotiations to supply imported vaccines to IndialsquoWhy start vax centres with pomp if Covaxin 2nd shot unavailablersquoldquoYou opened so many vaccination centres with so much pomp and splendour and now you say you donrsquot know when the second dose stock would be availablerdquo said the Delhi High Court on Wednesday slamming the AAP government The HC issued notice to the Delhi government seeking to know whether it can provide the second Covaxin dose to those who got the first shot before the expiry of the incubation period of six weeks between the two doses It also issued notice to the Centre on two pleas to make the second dose of both Covaxin and Covishield available in DelhiAlso Read Amid scarcity no Covid19 vaccination drive today in Mumbai BMC28307832Total no of Coronavirus cases in India so far335102Total no of deaths due to the virus in India so far1793645Total no of active cases in IndiaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever