Supreme Court Hearing On Suo Motu COVID Case: LIVE UPDATES

Justice Chandrachud: You keep saying that situation is dynamic, but you have to keep your ears on the ground. You keep saying digital India, digital India, but you are not aware of the ground realities. A poor worker from Jharkhand has to go all the way to a common centre ?

Justice Chandrachud: Is COWIN not mandatory ?

SG: You don’t have to do it individually.

Justice Chandrachud: Even in the villages, they have to get registered at a common centre. Is that really practical ?

Justice Chandrachud: We will be briefly hear the Amicus.

SG: He may not be aware of the changes. We have also opened that vaccination can take place in welfare associations and corporative societies. These are also being done. 

Justice Chandrachud: Just tell us how it works. We have the Universal Immunisation Programme.

Justice Bhat: Your own affidavit says so. If you produce the files, we will be better informed and can take it further. 

Justice Chandrachud: For the 45+ age group, how does the logistic work out ? What are the mechanics ?

SG: You have some other better way ? We have to think positive. 

Justice Bhat: You collect them and get the price from the States. 18 to 44 will be the most active.

SG: If all of us had taken the decision, we would have taken that.

SG: - fixed a price for every State.

Justice Chandrachud: That price is still higher than the Centre’s price.

Justice Bhat: There are conflicting claims by the manufacturers. If you are saying that you have negotiated the price for all States, that will make it clear.

Justice Chandrachud: Are you willing to state today that the Centre will take the responsibility of ensuring that States will get the vaccine ? That will resolve the entire problem.

SG: I don’t have the administrative expertise for this. The Centre negotiated and persuaded and-

Justice Chandrachud: Why are we not treating people with comorbidities and those who are marginalised on the same plane ?

Justice Chandrachud: What about the digital divide ? Everyone has to register on COWIN. Is it realistically possible for people in rural areas to start registering on this app ? How do you expect them to do that ? Our own law clerks and friends have tried.