In a latest development, the Central government on Monday, February 7, said that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for registration on CoWIN portal for COVID-19 vaccination.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant that one of the nine identity documents including passport, Driving Licence, PAN card, Voter's Card, Ration card can be produced for vaccination.
This was response to the notice issued by the apex court on October 1, 2021 to the Centre on the PIL.
The apex court took note of the submission and disposed of a plea filed by Siddharth Shankar Sharma who claimed that Aadhaar card was being mandatorily insisted upon for administering COVID-19 vaccination on the CoWIN portal.
It is also recorded in the affidavit that a provision has been made for other category of persons who may not have identity cards in their possession like prison inmates, inmates at mental health institutions etc., the bench said.
Meanwhile, the Health ministry addressed a letter to Principal Secretary of Health in Maharashtra to take action against the concerned private vaccination centre which denied vaccination to the petitioner despite production of valid passport ID. The grievance of the petitioner is duly met.
All concerned authorities to act in accordance with the policy of the government, it said.