Centre warned that “overzealous, though well-meaning, intervention may lead to unforeseen and unintended consequences”.
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court late Sunday night, the centre has defended its Covid vaccination policy. The vaccination policy has been at the centre of criticism for differential pricing, shortage of doses, and slow rollout.
The centre’s affidavit urged against “judicial interference” and warned that “overzealous, though well-meaning, intervention may lead to unforeseen and unintended consequences”.
“In the context of a global pandemic, where response and strategy of the nation is completely driven by expert medical and scientific opinion, there is little room for judicial interference. Any overzealous, though well-meaning, judicial intervention may lead to unforeseen and unintended consequences… in absence of any expert advice or administrative experience, leaving doctors, scientists, experts and executive very little room to find innovative solutions on the go,” the centre said in its affidavit.
“Pricing of vaccines is not only reasonable but uniform across the country (after) government persuasion with two vaccine companies resulted in uniform pricing,” it further added.
Everyone in the 18-45 age group (whose vaccinations had been delayed till the first week of May) would be vaccinated for free, as states had announced such plans, the affidavit said. It also said crematorium workers, and panchayat workers in rural areas, were “frontline workers” and so eligible for the vaccine.
The Apex Court last week had directed the centre to reconsider vaccine prices “to ensure it withstands scrutiny of Articles 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution”. The top court will take up the issue for hearing today.
The controversy over the vaccine prices had erupted after manufacturers Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech announced vastly different prices for the centre, state governments and private hospitals.
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