Coronavirus: Use surplus from RBI to provide free vaccines, Kerala HC tells Centre

The Kerala High Court on Monday suggested that the Centre use the excess funds that it got from the Reserve Bank of India to provide free coronavirus vaccines, especially to the poor, Live Law reported. Several states are facing crippling shortages of doses amid the massive second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Kerala High Court made the suggestions while hearing petitions challenging the Centre’s Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy. Under this policy, vaccine manufacturers will have to allot 50% of the doses produced to the Centre. They will be allowed to sell the remaining 50% to state governments and private organisations in the open market. The prices for the states are higher.

The RBI had on on Friday said it will transfer a surplus of Rs 99,122 crore to the central government for the nine-month accounting period that ended March 31. The amount, over 85% higher than the Budget estimate, is expected to help the central government with its expenses as the country battles the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Kerala High Court cited a media report on the surplus amount. “On Saturday, in the Indian Express, it is reported that RBI has given 99,000 crores as dividend to the Centre,” it said, according to Bar and Bench. “More than half than…

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