Kerala HC slams Centre's vaccination plan for creating two classes among citizens
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Kochi: Kerala High Court said that the Centre's vaccination scheme has created two classes in India - one that got Covaxin and cannot go anywhere, and the other that got Covishied and are allowed movement.
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan was hearing a petition by a man who sought a third dose of an internationally recognised vaccine in order to go abroad for work. The petitioner works as a welder in Saudi Arabia and cannot enter the country on account of having received Covaxin.
The High Court judge said that the court cannot sit like a mere spectator and can issue a direction to the Centre to pay the petitioner the amount he was receiving as salary.
The Bench stated that the creation of two classes of citizens in India has led to the "infringement of the fundamental right of movement of the petitioner. A citizen is suffering due to a State-sponsored vaccination scheme."
The judge directed the Centre to address his grievance within a month and listed the matter on November 5 for the Centre's response. A similar case is pending in the Supreme Court which said that it will wait for WHO's decision about Covaxin, said the Centre before Kerala HC.