Alka Verma –
Published On: October 12, 2021 at 11:20 IST
The Kerala High Court reserved its Orders on a Petition that was filed by two companies requesting the early allowance of the second dose of COVISHIELD vaccine to the workers of the two companies before the completion of the prescribed 84 day-gap, which was allowed by the Single Judge.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly was dealing with an Appeal which was preferred by the Central Government.
In the filed Appeal, Centre stated that by allowing a second dose of vaccine before the prescribed time gap, the Judge had intervened in the Vaccine policy of the Government.
The Central Government argued that while the Court has all the powers to ensure that its citizens are protected from the virus, on the other hand it doesn’t have any such power to intervene in between Government policy.
Adding to it, the Government also argued that only the two companies want its workers to get vaccinated before the prescribed time gap and such orders of the companies violate the individual rights of the workers.
However, Advocate Blaze K Jose who was appearing for the two respondent companies declined all the mentioned claims.
The Single Judge order, in its order had asked the appellants to make essential arrangements forthwith in the CoWIN portal in order to enable the booking of second dose of COVISHIELD vaccine after four weeks of the first dose being directed for the individuals who were willing to accept the same.
It should be noted here that earlier the Court refused to put a halt on the single Judge order.
Also Read: Centre to Kerala HC: 84 days gap between 2 Covishield Doses is most effective