Supreme Court slams Centre on COVID-19 vaccination policy, here are top points from hearing

The apex court raised questions over Centre's vaccination policy for 18-44 category age group, in which the states and private hospitals are to procure 50 per cent of the vaccines. It advised Centre to revisit the vaccine policy. 

"We believe that the Central Government should consider revisiting its current vaccine policy to ensure that it withstands the scrutiny of Articles 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty)of the Constitution," the top court said.

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The bench headed by Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud sought data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated (with one, and both doses), as against eligible persons in the first three phases of the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

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The top court has directed the Centre to provide an outline for how and when the Central Government seeks to vaccinate the remaining population in phases 1, 2 and 3. 

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The Supreme Court asked all states and Union Territories to submit their stand on providing free vaccination within 2 weeks .

Discrimination cannot be made between different classes of citizens who are similarly circumstanced on the ground that while the central government will carry the burden of providing free vaccines for the 45 years and above population, state governments will discharge the responsibility of the 18 to 44 age group on such commercial terms as they may negotiate, PTI quoted the SC as saying. 

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Considering the sharp digital divide between urban and rural India, the SC ordered the central government to file response on mandatory registration on the CoWin portal within two weeks. 

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The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to 'place on record all relevant documents and file notings reflecting its thinking culminating in the COVID-19 vaccination policy, and the purchase history till date of all jabs including Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V'. The matter has been listed for further hearing on June 30.

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