Why Is Centre's Approval Needed: High Court On Door-To-Door Covid Vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccine India: "Why do you (Maharashtra government) need approval? Health is a state subject too. Is the state government doing everything after taking approval from the Centre? Have states like Kerala, Bihar and Jharkhand taken approval from the Union government?" the court asked.

The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government why it needs an approval from the Centre to start door-to-door vaccination programme against COVID-19 for senior citizens, specially-abled and bedridden persons in the state. The state government on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the high court, saying home vaccination on an experimental basis can be started, but only for those who are completely immobile and bedridden. It, however, also said the proposal will have to be first approved by the Union government. "Why do you (Maharashtra government) need approval? Health is a state subject too. Is the state government doing everything after taking approval from the Centre? Have states like Kerala, Bihar and Jharkhand taken approval from the Union government?" a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni asked.