SC Asks Centre to Frame No-Fault Compensation Policy for Serious Covid Vaccine Side Effects
Court says existing monitoring system for vaccine side effects will continue; ruling comes on pleas citing deaths after Covishield vaccination.
New Delhi, Mar 10: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Union government to formulate a no-fault compensation framework for individuals who suffer serious adverse events following Covid-19 vaccination.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said that the current system for monitoring adverse events after immunisation would remain in place and that there was no need to establish a separate court-appointed expert panel.
While delivering the verdict, Justice Nath observed that the existing scientific mechanism already in place to assess vaccine related adverse events was adequate.
The bench also clarified that the judgement does not restrict individuals from seeking other legal remedies that may be available under the law.
At the same time, the court emphasised that introducing a no fault compensation framework should not be interpreted as an admission of responsibility or liability on the part of the Union government or any other authority.
The ruling came in response to a set of petitions, including one that alleged the deaths of two women in 2021 after receiving the first dose of the Covishield vaccine.
According to the petitioners, both women experienced severe adverse reactions following vaccination, prompting calls for a structured compensation mechanism for such cases.
The court’s directive now requires the Centre to design a policy framework aimed at providing relief to individuals affected by serious vaccine related complications while maintaining the current scientific evaluation process for immunisation related incidents.
