Can`t force any individual to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but current policy not unreasonable: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday (May 2, 2022) said that no individual should be forced to get vaccinated for Covid-19. 

“No individual can be forced to get vaccinated. The Court also says that it's satisfied that the current vaccine policy can't be said to be unreasonable & manifestly arbitrary," said the Supreme Court. 

"The government can form policy and impose some conditions for the larger public good,” the court added.

The judgement of the apex court came on a PIL filed by Dr Jacob Puliyel alleging coercive vaccination of citizens and seeking disclosure of Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial data and post-vaccination data

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai said bodily autonomy and integrity are protected under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The top court said the current Covid-19 vaccine policy cannot be said to be manifestly arbitrary and unreasonable. "Till numbers are low, we suggest that relevant orders are followed and no restriction is imposed on unvaccinated individuals on access to public areas or recall the same if already not done," the bench said.

The apex court also highlighted that the conditions imposed by some state governments, of restricting access to public places for unvaccinated people, is not proportional and should be recalled in the present prevailing conditions.

Supreme Court also directed the Centre to make public the data on adverse effects of Covid-19 vaccination.

Meanwhile, India on Monday reported 3,157 new Covid-19 infections, according to Union health ministry data. The active caseload increased to 19,500. India recorded 26 deaths today, pushing the death toll to 5,23,869. The country also reported 2,723 recoveries in a day. 

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,25,38,976, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.22 per cent. 

(With agency inputs)