NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Central government on its dual policy for procurement of Covid-19 vaccines and said that there needs to be one price for the vaccines across the nation. The Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, L. Nageswara Rao and Ravindra Bhat called for a uniform pricing policy to be adopted for Covid vaccines across the nation.
“Centre says it gets vaccines at low pricing since it buys in bulk, if this is the rationale then why do states have the higher price? There needs to be one price for the vaccines across the nation. Pandemic has evolved in last two months,” the court said.
“In this case, if the purpose is to procure vaccines then why should the centre confine itself to only post 45 age people and leave pre 45 age entirely to state for arranging logistics. How do we look at the marginalised and economically weaker ones?” asked the apex court.
The SC also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre about mandatory registration for vaccine by 18+ on CoWIN app. “If a villager doesn’t have mobile then he can go to a centre and get registered,” Solicitor General told the Bench.
“How are you answering the digital divide? How are you ensuring that the migrant workers are able to get vaccinated?” the SC asked Tushar Mehta. Responding to the Supreme Court, Tushar Mehta said, “Regarding providing modes other than digital, CoWIN digital portal allows the registration of 4 persons and the gram panchayats have centres to have the infrastructure for the internet. People who don’t have access to the internet can also take help from friends and relatives. Online registration decision has been taken since vaccines are not unlimited and if walk-in is allowed then there will be crowding but now walk-in is allowed subject to the availability of vaccine.”
Justice Chandrachud said that there is no digital literacy even today in rural areas. “I am the chairperson of the e-committee and we see how it is,” he said.
To this, Tushar Mehta said, “It is flexible now and we have now permitted workplace vaccination. Individual house to house vaccination was not possible but we are doing it through RWA and with ambulance present.”
Amicus Curiae Jaideep Gupta, assisting the court in the case, said there is no change in policy. Walk-in was always there for 45 plus, for 18 plus CoWIN registration is mandatory.
Justice Bhat said he is getting distress calls from all over the country like Kochi, Bangalore, etc. that within two minutes all slots are booked. Justice L Nageswara Rao said that the ground reality is very clear. 75 per cent vaccination is in urban areas and this concern needs to be addressed.
The Bench hearing the suo motu proceedings initiated by it on issues related to oxygen supply, drug supply, and vaccine policy in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, said that it will pass a short order today itself.
WITH ANI INPUTS