Delhi HC pulls up Centre for exporting COVID-19 vaccines
The Delhi High Court on Thursday pulled up the central government over restricted COVID-19 vaccinations in India, even as vaccine exports to other nations continue. The court said that there has to be a "sense of urgency" in conducting vaccinations in India, adding that the full capacity of the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech is not being exploited.
Delhi HC was hearing suo motu PIL
The Delhi HC was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) case concerning the COVID-19 vaccination of judges, court staff, and lawyers on priority. A Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli is hearing the plea. The court had, prima facie, found weight in the claim for declaring all persons associated with the judicial functioning as frontline workers.
Centre asked to explain rationale behind vaccination drive
The court asked the Centre to file an affidavit explaining the rationale behind allowing only restricted vaccinations in India. The Centre must also indicate its capacity to transport the vaccines and the extent to which it is being used. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and Standing Counsel Anil Soni said the selection of classes was a policy decision taken by an expert body.
Can accommodate members of legal fraternity: SII, Bharat Biotech
The counsel for SII and Bharat Biotech informed the court that the companies had the capacity to accommodate members of the legal fraternity for their vaccination on priority. The SII is manufacturing doses of Covishield, the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, while Bharat Biotech is manufacturing the indigenous COVAXIN. Both vaccines are being used in India's vaccination drive.
'Full capacity of SII, Bharat Biotech not being exploited'
According to Bar and Bench, the court remarked, "If the two institutes say they have the capacity, it seems their capacity is not being exploited to full capacity...At the same time, we're donating, selling vaccines to foreign countries...There has to be a sense of urgency."
Matter to be heard next on March 10
The Bar Council of Delhi and Delhi High Court Bar Associations were asked to report the strength of their members to ascertain the number of lawyers. The court asked SII and Bharat Biotech to file affidavits on their capacity to manufacture vaccines, their unutilized capacity, and the extent to which their capacities can be extended. The matter would be heard next on March 10.
1.66 crore vaccinated in India so far
India had launched the first phase of its vaccination drive on January 16 with an aim to inoculate three crore health and frontline workers for free. Starting March 1, the second phase was launched to inoculate those who are above 60 years of age or are above 45 years with co-morbidities. As of Thursday morning, 1,66,16,048 people had been vaccinated in India.
