SC asks Centre to adopt compensation policy for Covid vaccine-affected
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that the existing mechanism for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisaion against Covid shall continue.
At the same time, the apex court asked the Centre to frame a no-fault compensation policy for serious adverse events following Covid-19 vaccination.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said, "No separate court-appointed expert body is considered necessary in view of the existing mechanism for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisation," Justice Nath said while pronouncing the verdict.
The bench clarified that its judgement shall not preclude any person from pursuing such other remedies as may be available in law.
"Equally, the formulation of the no-fault framework shall not be construed as an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Union of India or any other authority," it said.
The top court delivered its verdict on pleas, including the one which alleged that two women lost their lives in 2021 after taking the first dose of the Covishield vaccine. The plea alleged that both of them suffered from severe adverse effects following immunisation.
(PTI inputs)