Nishka Srinivas Veluvali –
Published On: November 23, 2021 at 20:50 IST
On Tuesday, the Kerala High Court agreed to hear the Plea opposing the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi being pasted on the vaccination certificates issued to the citizens after getting vaccinated against Covid – 19.
Justice N. Nagaresh with regard to the same, issued notices to the respondents.
The Court in the last hearing of the same averted the Petition stating that it could have severe impact on the national scale.
“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 I’s their blood and sweat and they don’t want to see hiss face on it. What will happen then?” the Court questioned the Petitioner.
Advocate Ajit Joy representing the petitioner answered that the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi was printed on currency as per the regulations of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) whereas the Prime Minister’s photograph was not printed according to any Statutory Provisions.
The Petitioner is a senior citizen and an RTI Activist. He received a paid dose of COVID – 19 from private hospital. Immediately he received his vaccination certification as a proof of vaccination that had the photograph of the Prime Minister of India with a long message.
Anguished with this, he moved to the Court asserting that certificate was his private space and he has certain rights on it. He also claimed that there are many Fundamental Rights violation.
Further, on the Petitioner has requested the Court that he may be issued a new COVID – 19 vaccination certificates without Prime Minister’s photograph on it along with the permission to access to the COWIN platform, to generate such certificates when required.