The court was hearing a petitioner's argument asking why the prime minister's photo had to be on the COVID-19 vaccine certificate.
All vaccine certificates issued in India carry a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Delhi: On Tuesday (November 2), the Kerala high court said that asking for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph to be removed from the COVID-19 vaccination certificate was “a very dangerous proposition” and could lead to a slippery slope.
The court was hearing a petitioner’s argument asking why the prime minister’s photo had to be on the vaccine certificate. The petitioner – Peter Myaliparampil, a senior citizen – said he had received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at a private hospital, paying out of pocket. He has now said that Modi’s photo being on his vaccination certificate is a violation of his fundamental rights, LiveLaw reported.
While hearing the case on Tuesday, Justice N. Nagaresh orally remarked that such pleas could have broader consequences:
“This is a very dangerous proposition.
Tomorrow someone can come here and protest that they don’t like Mahatma
Gandhi, and seek the removal of his image from our currency saying it’s
their blood and sweat and they don’t want to see his face on it. What
will happen then?”
The petitioner’s lawyer, advocate Ajit Roy, responded that while Gandhi’s face on the currency was printed according to Reserve Bank of India regulations, there were no similar statutory provisions requiring Modi’s face on vaccine certificates.
The additional solicitor general sought more time from the court to file a response, so the bench posted the case on November 23.
As The Wire has analysed, India is perhaps the only country so far whose leader is using vaccination certificates to “promote his own politics and cult of personality”. India’s vaccination certificates are in stark contrast to the certificates or cards that the US, Israel and some other countries have issued to those who have received their prophylactic jabs.
On streets across the country too, the Union government has put up posters “thanking” Modi for India’s mass vaccination drive.
SOURCE ; THE WIRE
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