SC asks Centre why isn’t it buying 100 per cent of the vaccines from manufacturers and giving to states; it also warns central and state govts, DGPs against silencing citizens’ SOS calls on social media
A COVID patient awaits admission at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan, on Friday. Pic/PTI
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to “pick up responsibility” for the immunisation of the entire nation, while questioning its policy of allowing the private sector to decide the prices and distribution, reported Live Law.
Justice Ravindra Bhat said, “Rs 4,500 crore was funded to the organisations for the development of the vaccine. Then we also own the product!” The Centre has announced an advance of R4,500 crore to Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech against future supplies.
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‘Why must nation pay crores’
“The same manufacturer is saying Rs 150 to you and Rs 300-Rs 400 to the states. At a bulk level, the price difference will be of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 crore. Why must the nation pay this? This can be used elsewhere. Why can’t the Centre get in bulk and then the states have it picked up?” Justice Bhat added.
“Whether the procurement is for the Centre or the states, it is ultimately meant for the citizens. Why must we not adopt the model of the National Immunisation Programme? Why can’t the Centre acquire 100 per cent, identify the manufacturers and negotiate with them and then distribute to states?” Do not leave the vaccine pricing and distribution to the makers, This is equity over public goods. You need to pick up the responsibility for this”, said the SC.
While hearing another matter, the SC on Friday warned authorities, from the Centre down to police chiefs, against silencing people and their pleas for help on the presumption that they are raising false grievances on the internet.
Ensure free flow of info
“There should be free flow of information, we should hear voices of citizens,” said a bench headed by Justice Chandrachud and comprising Justices Bhat and L Nageswara Rao. It asked the Centre, states and all DGPs to not take any action against anyone who is posting messages on social media about issues like shortage of oxygen, beds or doctors as spreading rumour. “If any action is taken against such posts by citizens in distress, we will treat it as contempt of the court.”
The observations assume significance in view the recent decision of the Uttar Pradesh administration to prosecute people under the National Security Act for allegedly raising false alarms on social media. The hearing before the SC on the suo motu case for devising national policy for COVID-19 management is underway.
EC seeks gag order on media
The Election Commission on Friday moved the Madras High Court, seeking to restrain the media from reporting oral obesrvations of judges made on its role in conducting elections amid the pandemic.
HC refuses to hear plea
Comments of murder charges against ECI officials and the institution being solely responsible for the surge in COVID-19 cases had caused great damage and it had tarnished the EC’s image, its counsel contended. But the court refused to entertain the plea.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday offered his condolences to all those who have lost their dear ones due to lack of treatment and said prayers and sympathies from every state of the country are with them.
India saw 3,86,452 new Coronavirus cases, the highest single-day rise so far, and 3,498 new fatalities in a span of 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday morning.
India to import 4.5L remdesivir vials
The Centre has placed orders for import of 4.5 lakh vials of remdesivir with the first consignment of 75,000 vials expected to reach Indian shores on Friday, Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry said in a statement.The government has started importing the vital drug from other countries to ease its shortage in the country, it said.
1,87,62,976
Total no. of coronavirus cases in India so far
2,08,330
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far
1,53,84,418
Total no. of patients Recovered and discharged in India so far
15,21,05,563
(Total no. of people vaccinated so far)
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