Who decided to use PM Modi's photo on Covid-19 vaccine certificates? What govt said in RTI reply

Who in the government took the decision to use PM Narendra Modi's photo on Covid-19 vaccination certificates? When was the decision taken? India Today TV filed a Right to Information (RTI) query to find out. Here's what the government said.

On October 8, 2021, the Kerala High Court sent a notice to the Centre and the state government on a petition filed by M Peter seeking Covid-19 certificates without Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo on them. M Peter argued that the vaccine certificates being released currently violate the fundamental rights of a citizen. The petition sought a certificate that did not have the photo of the prime minister. Both governments have to file their views in two weeks.

Is it mandatory to print photographs of the prime minister on Covid vaccination certificates? This question was asked to the government in the Rajya Sabha. On 10 August 2021, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar responded with a written reply stating that the presence of the photo along with a quote from the prime minister would reinforce the message of creating awareness about following Covid-appropriate behaviour even after inoculation.