New Delhi, Mar 10: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to formulate a no-fault compensation policy for individuals who suffer serious adverse events after receiving Covid-19 vaccines.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the existing system for monitoring adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) would continue and there was no need to constitute a separate court-appointed expert body.
“No separate court-appointed expert body is considered necessary in view of the existing mechanism for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisation,” Justice Nath said while pronouncing the judgement.
The bench also clarified that the ruling would not prevent affected individuals from pursuing other legal remedies available under the law.
“Equally, the formulation of the no-fault framework shall not be construed as an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Union of India or any other authority,” the court said.
The top court delivered its verdict on a batch of pleas, including one alleging that two women died in 2021 after taking the first dose of the Covishield vaccine.
The petition claimed that both women suffered severe adverse effects following immunisation and sought compensation as well as an independent mechanism to examine such cases. (Agencies)
