The Supreme Court today rejected the plea filed by the Youth Bar Association seeking door-to-door Covid-19 vaccination policy for those who are either old or physically disabled and a toll free 24/7 helpline for the same.
The bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Hima Kohli observed that it is difficult to issue general directions over a plea when conditions are varying in different parts of the country; furthermore the plea is not even based on thorough research.
Babli Singh, the Counsel for the petitioner, stated the third wave is right around the corner; however the bench had altogether a different opinion and didn’t let the petitioner argue observing that such pleas are filed disregarding the diversity of the country. The bench allowed the petitioner to address concerns with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
‘Lack of understanding about the diversity of the country’
“Do the same conditions prevail in Ladakh and Kerala, or Uttar Pradesh? Are challenges the same in urban parts of India and the rural areas? There is a lack of understanding about the diversity of the country, about the complexity of governance… Nobody has applied their mind to see whether it is feasible or not… When you ask for this sort of relief you need to see the complexity of this country. You haven’t talked about Delhi. With one stroke of brush, a petition for the entire country is filed. Vaccination has begun, over 60 percent of the population have been administered with 1st dose… A petition can’t be filed by casual nature. It has to be researched thoroughly,”
the bench observed.
The bench further observed that directions have already been given in the suo motu petition, there is a committee to look into the diverse issue of Covid and a national task force was also formed, it is the responsibility of the State and the court should not impinge upon the administrative power of the State to describe procedure to administer vaccination.
The plea along with seeking a general order to the Union to begin door-to-door vaccination also sought directions for the government to frame a Standard Operating Procedure for administration of door-to-door vaccines and a 24X7 portal for the purpose of this type of vaccination.