A Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and PS Narasimha said, "Having due regard to the above grievance, we are of the considered view that it would be appropriate if the matter is examined by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare."

The Centre on Tuesday clarified to the Supreme Court that there was no legal compulsion to get a vaccination for COVID-19.

New Delhi Sep 28 PTI The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that there is no need for a toll-free number for registration for COVID-19 vaccination as the Centre has already started walk-in vaccination where people can go for jabs without prior enrolmentA bench of Justices DY Chandrachud Vikram Nath and BV Nagarathna said that prayers in PIL filed by one Bibhuti Bhushan Mishra have become infructuousYour petition was filed in the month of May seeking setting up of a toll-free number for COVID-19 vaccination registration Since then lots of development has taken place and after our June 1 order the government has started a walk-in facility for vaccination Now people who are not registered can go to these centres and get themselves registered and vaccinated The prayer in the petition has become infructuous the bench told Mishra who was appearing in personThe petitioner said that a toll-free number will take care of the difficulty people in rural areas face in registrationThe bench said people who are not registered on the CoWIN portal can simply go to these walk-in centres and get themselves registered and take the vaccination for COVID-19The petition has been rendered infructuous by subsequent developments that have taken place since it was filed on May 27 2021 during the second ways of the COVID-19 pandemic As a matter of policy walk-in registrations have been permitted Hence no directions are necessary for the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution The petition is disposed of the bench said in its orderSimilarly the bench also termed as infructuous the prayer of another PIL filed by advocate G S Mani seeking direction to Centre and all States and UTs to ensure that proper medical treatment and facilities are being provided to non-COVID-19 patients like heart patients pregnant women having the disease with Kidney Liver and lungs and patients waiting for major and minor medical operations and surgery during the lockdown periodThe bench told Mani that he has filed his petition in May this year and now that lockdown is over his plea has also become infructuousThe first prayer has been rendered infructuous since the lockdown has ended The second prayer is overbroad since a general direction to enforce fundamental rights has been sought In the circumstances the petition is disposed of since no directions are necessary at this stage the bench said in its orderThe top court however granted him liberty to approach the court in case of any necessity in the futureMani in his plea has claimed that due to the COVID-19 lockdown situation patients are struggling to get proper medical treatment and they are not getting admission proper medical treatment and facilities in government and private hospitals in all the States and UTs due to heavy rush in COVID wardMany hospitals have stopped their emergency ward treatment and postponed major surgeries Many non-COVID patients need regular treatment and care he said in his plea PTI MNL MNL RKS RKS