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Informist, Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

 

--SC: Govt to frame compensation norms for adverse events post COVID vaccines 

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the government to frame a "no fault compensation policy" for serious adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. The existing mechanism for monitoring adverse events following immunisation shall also continue and relevant data may be periodically placed in the public domain, said the top court.

 

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said that no separate court-appointed expert body was necessary currently in view of the existing mechanisms for scientific assessment of adverse events following immunisation. It is clarified that the judgement shall not preclude any person from pursuing remedy available in law, said the bench. "The formulation of the no fault framework shall not be construed as admission of liability or fault on the part of the Union of India or any other authority. Accordingly, the petitions are disposed of," it added. 

 

The case has its genesis from petitioner Rachana Gangu's 18-year-old daughter getting the first dose of Covishield COVID-19 vaccine on May 29, 2021 and losing her life on Jun. 19, 2021. In another instance, a 20-year-old daughter of petitioner Venugopolan Govindan received the first dose of Covishield vaccine on Jun. 18, 2021 and she lost her life on Jul. 10, 2021. 

 

The petitioners said that after the vaccination, the two girls suffered from severe adverse effects. The petitioners had made representations to the authorities concerned, which had not responded adequately. 

 

The petitioners had sought a direction to the government for appointing an expert medical board, independent of the government, to forthwith inquire into and investigate into deaths of their daughters and to share the report of the autopsy and investigation with them in a time-bound manner. The petitioners sought a direction to the expert medical board to prepare a protocol for early detection of and timely treatment for the adverse effects due to the COVID-19 vaccines such as the ones that led to the deaths of their daughters. Further, they sought a direction to the government to grant significant monetary compensation for the deaths, which will be donated by them to organizations working for social causes.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

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