Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 2

Holding that Covid vaccination policy is “prima facie arbitrary and irrational”, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to place on record all relevant documents and file notings along with purchase history till date of all jabs — Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V.

“The policy of the Union Government for conducting free vaccination itself for groups under the first two phases and replacing it with paid vaccination by the state/UT governments and private hospitals for the 18-44 age group is prima facie arbitrary and irrational,” a Special Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said.

Noting that the Union Budget for 2021-22 had earmarked Rs 35,000 crore for procuring vaccines, the Bench directed the Centre “to clarify how these funds have been spent so far and why these cannot be utilised for vaccinating persons aged 18-44 years”. The top court, which had taken suo motu cognisance of Covid management, had issued a series of directions on May 31, but the order was released on Wednesday.

Seeking complete data on the government’s purchase history of all vaccines — Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V — till date, it ordered the Centre to file an affidavit in two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on June 30.

It sought data on the percentage of population vaccinated (with one and both doses), as against eligible persons in the first three phases.

The Centre had submitted that the current policy enabled states/UTs and private hospitals to procure 50 per cent of the monthly CDL approved doses at a prefixed price and that it would spur competition which would attract more manufacturers and eventually prices would come down.

Finding fault with the policy, the top court said, “Prima facie, the only room for negotiation with the two vaccine manufacturers was on price and quantity, both of which have been prefixed by the Centre. This casts serious doubts on government’s justification for enabling higher prices as a competitive measure.”

594 docs died in second wave, says IMA

As many as 594 doctors have died due to Covid in the ongoing second wave with Delhi recording maximum 107 fatalities, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said. It said 748 doctors had died in the first wave. Delhi was followed by Bihar (96), UP (67), Rajasthan (43), Jharkhand (39), AP and Telangana (32 each). PTI

‘Clarify how Rs35,000 cr budget for jabs spent’

Union Budget for 2021-22 had earmarked Rs35,000 crore for vaccines

The SC directs the Centre to clarify how these funds have been spent and why not spend it on buying jabs

Demands explanation on...

1 Dates of purchase orders placed by the Centre for all 3 vaccines

2 Quantity of vaccines ordered on each date

3 Projected date of supply of the vaccines

1,32,788 fresh cases

TOTAL DEATHS 3,35,102

ACTIVE CASES 17,93,645

3,207 deaths in 24 hours

Indian PSU Haffkine to make 22.8 cr Covaxin doses a year