Vaccine challenge: People should not be forced to make contributions to CMDRF, says HC

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed that people should not be forced to contribute money to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) as part of the vaccine challenge. Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the order on a petition filed by retired KSEB employees EG Rajan and M Keshavan Nair who pointed out that one day's salary was cut from their pension amount as part of the vaccine challenge. The single bench ruled that the amount deducted from the petitioners should be repaid within two weeks and that no such amount should be deducted without written permission.

On May 14, KSEB had issued an order stating that one day's pension should be contributed for the vaccine challenge. The petitioners contended that the amount was withheld without their permission and that the order should be quashed.