In a bid to bring about transparency and clarity on the COVID19 vaccination program in the country, the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to furnish the complete data on the purchase history of all the vaccines purchased till date.
As part of its suo motu proceedings on the COVID19 situation in the country, a bench consisting of Justices DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat directed the Centre to file the affidavit within a couple of weeks.
It also told the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to ensure that the copies of all the relevant documents and file notings reflecting its thinking and culminating in the vaccination policy are also annexed in the affidavit. The bench had passed this order on May 31 but it was uploaded on the the Supreme Court website today i.e. on June 2.
“The data should clarify: (a) the dates of all procurement orders placed by the Central Government for all 3 vaccines; (b) the quantity of vaccines ordered as on each date; and (c) the projected date of supply,” it stated in the order.
The apex court has also asked the Centre to furnish data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated so far (with single dose and both doses), as against eligible persons in the first three phases of the vaccination drive.
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“This shall include data pertaining to the percentage of rural population as well as the percentage of urban population so vaccinated,” the court stated.
The case will be next considered on June 30.
