The Centre’s vaccination scheme has created two classes of citizens in India — those who have got Covaxin and whose movements are restricted, and those who have received Covishield and can go anywhere — Kerala High Court said on Tuesday.

The observation by Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan came during the hearing of the petition of a man who was working as a welder in Saudi Arabia. He has moved the court for a third jab as the two doses of Covaxin he had received were not recognised in the Gulf nation. He stands to lose his job as he cannot go there without being jabbed by an internationally recognised vaccine.

The court said the creation of two classes of citizens resulted in “infringement of the fundamental right of movement of the petitioner”. “His movement is restricted. A citizen is suffering because of a State-sponsored vaccination scheme. It is a clear case of infringement of the fundamental rights of the petitioner,” the court observed.

The judge said he would not order as to whether a third jab be administered to the petitioner but would direct the Centre to redress his grievance within one month.