[Priority COVID vaccination] "Concern of lawyers genuine," says Supreme Court; stays cases before High Courts related to Covid vaccination

The Supreme Court on Thursday remarked that the requests raised by lawyers for priority COVID-19 vaccination appeared genuine prima facie since advocates have to frequently meet and interact with people to sustain their practice and make money. .A Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian was hearing transfer petitions filed by vaccine manufacturers, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech seeking transfer cases on Covid vaccination, which are pending before various High Courts to the Supreme Court. ."Advocates can make money only when they come in contact of people. This is where these claims come from and that's why High Court is looking into it. Can advocates be also on your expert committee," CJI Bobde asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. .The Central government, however, maintained that it would not be appropriate to give priority to lawyers. "How do I distinguish a lawyer colleague of mine who is 30 to 35 and another one who is a vegetable vendor who is 30 to 35 and also in touch with others in the market," asked Mehta. Tomorrow journalists make such a demand and say they also come in contact with others, he added..Currently, vaccination is available only for front line workers like medical staff and for those above 60 years of age or those above 45 with co-morbidities..The CJI admitted that the judges on the Bench are not medical experts and cannot explain why some one is not in the priority category. "We have no doubt that government has distinguished itself by supplying vaccines to all around the world. No one is attributing mala fide to you. (But) it is a genuine concern on behalf of the advocates," the CJI said. .The Court eventually issued notice on the transfer petitions and also stayed proceedings pending before various High Courts in relation to the issue. .Petitions seeking priority Covid vaccination for judges, lawyers and court staff are pending before Delhi and Bombay High Courts. .Both the High Courts had deferred hearing in those matters after it was brought to their notice that transfer petitions had been filed before the Supreme Court by vaccine manufacturers seeking transfer of the matters to the Supreme Court..COVID-19-Vaccines for lawyers, Judges: Bharat Biotech files transfer plea in Supreme Court, Delhi High Court adjourns PIL .Serum Institute in its transfer plea filed through advocate Malvika Kapila stated that any direction passed by the High Court will lead to similar writ petitions and PILs in other states. .Thus, in order to avoid multiplicity of proceedings and conflicting judgments, Supreme Court should settle the matter, it was submitted. .Plea in Madras High Court claims "COVISHIELD vaccine not safe for all;" seeks Rs 5 crore damages from Serum Institute alleging adverse reaction.In a connected case before the Supreme Court, Central government opposed priority Covid-19 vaccination for judges, court staff, lawyers and their staff..In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Manohar Agnani told the Court that it would not be desirable to create a separate class consisting of lawyers and judges as it could be discriminatory towards persons engaged in other trade or profession.The affidavit said that lawyers and staff who are above 60 years of age or are above 45 years old with co-morbidities are anyways covered by the present vaccination drive..The affidavit was filed in a public interest litigation petition filed by one Arvind Singh seeking inclusion of judges, lawyers and court staff in the priority list for COVID-19 vaccination..[Read Order]