NEW DELHI: Supporting mandatory COVID vaccination to tackle the pandemic, the Center approved a decision taken by various state governments that made it necessary to visit offices and avail services like public transport and mall visits. And told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that if the situation worsens in future, the same call will be taken to make it mandatory.
Opposing a PIL filed against the vaccine mandate by Jacob Puliyel, a former member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati argued before a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai that Decisions are being taken to save lives. millions of citizens. Mehta said a person cannot claim that getting vaccinated is a matter of his fundamental right as it would endanger the lives of many.
He said that the right not to get vaccinated cannot overcome the fundamental right of citizens to health and their right not to get infected by the deadly virus. Though the SG said the Center has not made vaccination mandatory and remains voluntary, it is always open to making it mandatory.
“If a situation arises, we may need to make it mandatory in future. I am supporting the decisions taken by the states. Right to die is a fundamental right but to infect others is not a fundamental right. It is a crime,” submitted Mehta.
FacebookTwitterLinkedinE-mail