SC JUDGES, KIN CAN GET VACCINATED FROM TODAY
HEALTH MINISTRY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT FACILITY WITHIN THE APEX COURT PRECINCT WILL BE USED FOR THE VACCINATION
NEW DELHI: Sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court judges will receive coronavirus vaccine shots from tomorrow, people familiar with the development said on Monday.
The kin of the judges will also receive the vaccine in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Centre, the people cited above added.
Confirming the same, a statement from the Union health ministry said that the entire vaccination process will be conducted through the Co-WIN system and that the government facility within the apex court precinct will be used for the same.
The ministry, however, rejected media reports which suggested that the judges would get the option to choose between the two vaccines – Covaxin or Covishield. According to news agency ANI, the ministry said the judges have not been given any such option.People familiar with the matter said that the Supreme Court registry has made arrangements for a vaccination facility within the premises in addition to the ones across government hospitals listed for the drive.The cost of vaccination will be as per the Centre’s guidelines, they added. Private hospitals can charge up to ₹250 per shot.
Sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court judges will receive coronavirus vaccine shots from tomorrow, people familiar with the development said on Monday.
The kin of the judges will also receive the vaccine in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Centre, the people cited above added.
Confirming the same, a statement from the Union health ministry said that the entire vaccination process will be conducted through the Co-WIN system and that the government facility within the apex court precinct will be used for the same.
The ministry, however, rejected media reports which suggested that the judges would get the option to choose between the two vaccines – Covaxin or Covishield.
According to news agency ANI, the ministry said the judges have not been given any such option.
People familiar with the matter said that the Supreme Court registry has made arrangements for a vaccination facility within the premises in addition to the ones across government hospitals listed for the drive.
The cost of vaccination will be as per the Centre’s guidelines, they added. Private hospitals can charge up to ₹250 per shot.
Last month, the top court had sought the Centre’s response on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking inclusion of judges, judicial staff and lawyers in the priority category for administration of the vaccine.
“The purpose of the petition is to ensure that judges, lawyers, court staff and the staff of the lawyers, who are also providing one of the ‘essential services’ in the form of Judicial Administration, are included in the priority category of group of the population for the administration of Covid-19 vaccine. They ought to be treated at par with other essential service providers for the purpose of administration of vaccine,” the plea filed through advocate Rishi Sehgal read.
In January, the Supreme Court Bar Association had written to the government raising similar demands.
Meanwhile, several senior citizens on Monday received the coronavirus vaccine as the second phase of the drive, involving those about 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities, kickstarted across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those inoculated with the first dose of Covaxin at AIIMS hospital in the national capital.
According to the Union Health Ministry, over one million citizens registered themselves on the Co-WIN portal till 1 pm on Monday. As the process on www.cowin.gov.in opened up at 9 am, several took to social media to flag glitches in the registration system.
However, the ministry later clarified that the Co-WIN app on Play Store is meant for use only by the administrators, and that registration and booking for appointment for Covid-19 vaccination has to be done through the portal www.cowin.gov.in.
“Registration and booking for appointment for #COVID19 vaccination is to be done through #CoWIN Portal:www.cowin.gov.in. There is no #CoWIN App for beneficiary registration. The App on Play Store is for administrators only,” it posted on Twitter.