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SC Directs Centre to Frame 'No-Fault' Compensation Policy for COVID-19 Vaccine AEFI, Citing May 2022 Jacob Puliyel Case

PolitySocial IssuesHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
10 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:May 2, 2022
Bodies:Supreme Court
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What This Article Covers

1.Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ordered the Centre to formulate a no-fault compensation policy for serious COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

2.The court rejected a plea for a new expert committee on AEFI, directing that existing monitoring mechanisms continue and data be made public, referencing the May 2, 2022 order in Jacob Puliyel vs Union of India.

3.The order facilitates easier compensation claims without proving liability, a key development for public health policy and governance under judicial review.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Supreme Court has mandated the government to create a 'no-fault' compensation framework for severe Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) from COVID-19 vaccines, removing the need to prove negligence. This is a critical governance and public health update, directly testing knowledge of judicial directives and vaccine policy mechanisms for exams.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

BenchJustices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
Key PrecedentJacob Puliyel vs Union of India (May 2, 2022)
Vaccine MentionedCovishield

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Bench: Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
  • ›Key Precedent: Jacob Puliyel vs Union of India (May 2, 2022)
  • ›Target this Data: The Supreme Court order was issued by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the nodal agency for framing the vaccine compensation policy.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The Court cited its previous order dated May 2, 2022, in the case of Jacob Puliyel vs Union of India.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which ministry does the primary responsibility lie for framing the 'no-fault' compensation policy for vaccine side effects as directed by the Supreme Court?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's order on COVID-19 vaccine compensation:

1. The Court directed the creation of a new expert committee to examine Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI).

2. The order mandates that AEFI data be placed in the public domain, continuing a directive from May 2022.

3. The bench comprised Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

The Supreme Court's recent order on vaccine compensation cited a precedent from which specific date in 2022?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary legal implication of the 'no-fault' compensation policy directed by the Supreme Court?

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