Why are you not vaccinating citizens free of cost? This is not the time to follow federal principles; high court asks centre

KOCHI: Kerala high court has asked the Centre why it is not vaccinating citizens free of cost. The high court has put forward several questions to the centre including why the responsibility is bestowed upon the states alone.

“The centre has to spend Rs 34,000 crore for a free vaccination. Why has it not taken a decision yet? This is not the time to follow federal principles,” the high court bench said. The court also asked why can’t the centre spend RBI’s dividend to cover the free vaccination cost.

In response, the centre said that vaccination is a policy decision and the centre cannot do anything alone on this issue. “Vaccination is not under the full control of the government. The entire process is administered by a panel appointed by the Supreme Court. Therefore more time should be given to submit an explanation before the court,” the centre said.

The court has sought the centre’s response over the petitions filed by a group of persons led by Ottapalam native Prabhakaran. The high court has earlier asked whether the vaccination could be undertaken free of cost while the pleas were being considered. The court has asked the centre to file a clear reply on this issue later. But even when the petition was reconsidered today, the centre has not filed a clear reply.

On Sunday, the high court expressed its displeasure to the central government over the slow pace of vaccination in the country. The court said in the current pace of vaccination it would take at least two years to complete the process. In this situation, it has also asked the centre to tell when it can send the next vaccine dispatch to the state.