The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre for data on the number of people vaccinated, volume of vaccines procured and ordered, and the timeline for inoculating the remaining population, directing that all relevant “file notings” be attached with the affidavit.

It also directed the states and Union Territories to file affidavits explaining their stand on providing free vaccination to their people at the cost of the exchequer.

This directive came in the light of the Centre’s argument that its refusal to fund the states’ entire vaccine requirement would not hurt citizens since a large number of states had announced free vaccination anyway.

The court, however, clarified that it believed it was the Centre’s responsibility and not the states’ to ensure free vaccination for all Indians.

“We direct the UoI (Union of India) to file an affidavit, which shall address the issues and questions raised, wherein it shall ensure that each issue is responded to individually and no issue is missed out,” the bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, L. Nageswara Rao and S. Ravindra Bhat said.

“While filing its affidavit, UoI shall also ensure that copies of all the relevant documents and file notings reflecting its thinking and culminating in the vaccination policy are also annexed (to) the vaccination policy. Hence, we direct the UoI to file its affidavit within two weeks.”

Some of the information the bench sought:

⚫ Data on the percentage of population vaccinated, with one or both doses, so far against the population of eligible people. This should include separate data on the rural and urban populations.

⚫ Complete data on the Centre’s purchase of all the Covid-19 vaccines (Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V). The data should clarify: (a) the dates of all the procurement orders placed by the central government for all three vaccines; (b) the quantity of vaccines ordered on each date; and (c) the projected date of supply and an outline of how and when the Centre seeks to vaccinate the remaining population.

⚫ The steps being taken by the Centre to ensure drug availability for mucormycosis.

“We also note that UoI’s stated position in its affidavit dated 9 May 2021 is that every state/UT government shall provide vaccination free of cost to its population,” the bench said.

“It is important that individual state/UT governments confirm/deny this position before this court. Further, if they have decided to vaccinate their population for free then, as a matter of principle, it is important that this policy is annexed to their affidavit, so that the population within their territories can be assured of their right to be vaccinated for free at a state vaccination centre.

“Hence, we direct each of the state/ UT governments to also file an affidavit within two weeks, where they shall clarify their position and put on record their individual policies.”

The next hearing will be on June 30.