Vaccination policy in the courtroom: Supreme Court's directive on the compulsion of registration on Cowin App - Central government should change the policy keeping in mind the ground situation

The Supreme Court on Monday heard petitions related to Covid Management. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Justice L Nageswara Rao, and Justice Ravindra Bhat also questioned the compulsion of registration on the Cowin app for vaccination. The court said that how will a laborer from Jharkhand be registered in Rajasthan? The Center talks of Digital India, but the situation is different in rural areas. Therefore, the Center must change the policy keeping in mind the ground situation.

Supreme Court comments and questions on vaccination policy

1. Vaccine prices should be uniform across the country

The Center says that it has to pay the price for the purchase of the vaccine in large quantities. If this is your reasoning, then why are the states paying more for the vaccine? Vaccine prices need to be kept the same throughout the country. The epidemic has increased in the last two months.

2. How is registration in rural areas

What is being done for the vaccination of rural areas where people are not aware of the digital system? You said that villagers can register on the Cowin app through NGOs. Our court clerks and secretaries have tried to register Cowin to know how the app works.

3. Policymakers are aware of the ground situation

Justice DY Chandrachud said in a hidayati tone - In the vaccination policy, registration on the Cowin app has been made necessary. It did not take into account the real situation of Digital India. Policymakers should be aware of the ground situation. If we had to do this, we would have done it 10-15 days ago. We want you to be aware of what is happening in the country. You make the necessary changes.

4. How will the registration of the patient of Jharkhand be done in Rajasthan

You are constantly saying that vaccination is going on very fast. But you also keep an eye on the ground situation. You keep saying Digital India-Digital India, but in reality, the situation in rural areas is different. How will an uneducated laborer of Jharkhand be registered in Rajasthan? Tell us how you will overcome this digital paradox.

5. Clarify Your Policy

Is the policy of the Center that states and municipal corporations can arrange for vaccines for themselves or will the center arrange for them as a nodal agency? States like Punjab and Delhi are taking out global tenders to arrange vaccines for themselves? What are your arguments regarding this policy? We want clarity about this.

In the last hearing, the task force was ordered to be formed.

In the hearing held on 8 May, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a 12-member National Task Force. The court argued that the inputs from this task force would help policymakers to sort out the current problems.