The High Court has also sought responses from Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech.
Kerala Deputy Leader of the Opposition, MK Muneer, has filed a petition before the High Court challenging the Centre's new phase 3 vaccination policy which is to become effective from May 1. The court has asked for a response before May 4 on the matter from, among others, the Union government.
The Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy "violates Article 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India, as well as being contrary to the provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and consequent National Disaster Management Plan, 2019 (NDMP)," Mr Muneer has claimed.
His petition seeks directions "to vaccinate all citizens free of cost, and to make Covid vaccines available at uniform prices for the Centre and all the states in India so that the Central and State governments can procure vaccines from manufacturers at the same rate along with other consequential reliefs".
Others notified by the court for a response on the plea include vaccine makers Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech.
"Because of the Centre's policy, dual pricing of vaccines is allowed, and States are forced to contend with private players for purchase of the vaccines in the open market, while the Centre procures it at a discounted/subsidised rate," Mr Muneer has stated.
This concern has been raised by several Chief Ministers across India, including Pinarayi Vijayan. He had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the varying rates of vaccines and raised the matter during the recently held video conference between PM Modi and Chief Ministers of the worst-affected states.
Mr Vijayan has also demanded that all citizens be given free vaccinations. The state Leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala, had written to the Prime Minister separately on the same matter.