The Supreme Court of India on Monday has asked the Narendra Modi government to prepare a vaccination policy, citing the fact that several states are now in the process of issuing global tenders to procure doses for Covid-19. It has also told the Centre to equally price the shots for all and keep the poor in mind.
A bench comprising Justice D Y Chandrachud, Ravindra Bhat and L Nageswara Rao was hearing a suo motu case relating to the supply of essential medicines, vaccines and medical oxygen to Covid positive patients.
“Please smell the coffee," remarked Justice D.Y. Chandrachud while grilling the centre over mandatory online registration in a country where many don’t have access to the Internet.
The bench has asked the government to submit a statement on oath and come up with a policy document in two weeks. "If we had to do it, we would have done it 15-20 days back. If we had to do it, we would have done so 15 days ago. But we want you to smell the coffee and realise what is happening in the country and make the necessary amendments," said the bench.
Stressing that the covid vaccine is not reaching the rural population, the bench indicated that 75 per cent of vaccination is being done only in urban regions.
"With a shortage, there is no chance of vaccine going in rural areas," the bench noted.
“The policy today is completely exclusionary for rural areas," Chandrachud said.
Also Read: ‘Spreads quickly in air': Vietnam discovers hybrid of Covid variants found in India & UK
Justice Chandrachud maintained that vaccine policy is not something that should be made on an emergency basis, on the day-to-day response, instead, there should be a proper design based on science. "We want the policy to be amended..need enforceable policies for the country. You have to have a policy to deal with these issues. If a new issue comes up then the policy has to address it", the bench said.
Pointing to technical glitches on the CoWIN application used for vaccination registration, Justice Bhat said he had got distress calls from across the nation, and added that young people who had registered for vaccination, visit private hospitals and hear that the slots are booked.
In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the government and said that the administration is aware of the issues and is making improvements in its policies every day, ensuring that all eligible people will be vaccinated by the end of this year.
Also Read: Covid-19: Maha govt extends Covid restrictions till June 15: Here are new guidelines
Replying to Mehta, Justice Chandrachud stated that the ability to recognise that 'I am wrong' is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign of power and strength.
Justice Chandrachud added that this platform is for dialogue across the spectrum. "The idea is not to criticise but to strengthen the arms of the government. The fact that MEA went abroad, had dialogue shows the seriousness of the situation", he said.