Vaccination policy for 18-44 age group is arbitrary and irrational- SC

The Supreme Court has said said paid Covid-19 vaccination policy for 18-44 age group is “arbitrary and irrational”.  In its order, the apex court on Wednesday, asked the Centre to review its vaccination policy and "place on record a roadmap of projected availability of vaccines till 31 December 2021".  The court will take up the case again on June 30. The Court has sought a response from the central government asking it to clarify how Rs 35,000 crore earmarked for Covid-19 vaccine procurement in the Union Budget was being spent. The court asked why the same could not be utilised for vaccinating persons in 18-44 age group.

The bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, LN Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, asked the Centre to submit a comparison of the prices of vaccines available in India to their international prices. It has been said by many critics that in India, the 18-44-year-olds are paying record prices for vaccines. In most nations, vaccines are procured by the governments and distributed to the people at no cost. The top court, which took up the issue suo motu, also countered the Centre's argument that judiciary must keep off from executive on policies. "Courts cannot be silent spectators when constitutional rights of citizens are infringed by executive policies," the judges wrote.