"No Judicial Interference": Centre To Supreme Court On Vaccine Policy

The Supreme Court, which last week directed the centre to reconsider vaccine prices on grounds that it would harm the public's right to health - will hear the issue today

The centre has defended its Covid vaccination policy - criticised for differential pricing, shortage of doses, and slow rollout - in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court late Sunday night. The affidavit urged against "judicial interference" and asked the court to leave decisions "taken by the Executive, based on expert medical and scientific advice... in the larger public interest". The Supreme Court, which last week directed the centre to reconsider vaccine prices on grounds that it would harm the public's right to health - will hear the issue today. "The policy, strategy and steps taken by the Executive, based on expert medical and scientific advice, have to be appreciated in the context of a medical crisis... as decisions are taken after detailed deliberations at highest level, no interference is called for in judicial proceedings, leaving it open for the Executive to discharge its functions in larger public interest," the centre said.