On a plea demanding the Covid-19 certificate without Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s portrait, the Kerala High Court issued a notice to the Union Government. M Peter, a Kottayam resident, said that the current immunization certificate infringed on a citizen’s fundamental rights and requested a certificate sans the Prime Minister’s portrait.
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Following the submission of his petition, Justice P B Suresh Kumar ordered the union and state governments to file their responses within two weeks. The petitioner also provided immunization certificates from various nations, including the United States, Indonesia, Israel, and Germany, claiming they all had essential information but no photographs of government leaders.
The petitioner, who travels frequently, also claims that he must bring the certificate with him to numerous locations and that the portrait of the Prime Minister. People may be offered the option of carrying the certificate without a photo if the government is firm. Advocate Ajit Joy filed the petition, claiming that the fight against the pandemic has been turned into a public relations and media campaign, giving the appearance that it is a one-person show. He asserted that he has every right to carry an immunization certificate without the PM’s photo.
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Previously, the Union administration justified its choice to include the portrait in the certificate, claiming that the image of the Prime Minister, combined with his remarks, helps raise general awareness and encourage Covid-appropriate behaviour. Minister of State for Health BP Pawar claimed the PM’s portrait was appropriate to spread awareness when a matter was raised in the upper house two months ago. Congress and other members of the opposition, on the other hand, were outraged.
