New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to obtain clarification from the Union Government on whether it intends to draft a formal policy to compensate families of individuals who allegedly died due to adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As per a report by Live Law, the matter came up before a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, during the hearing of a Special Leave Petition challenging an interim order by the Kerala High Court, which addressed concerns surrounding Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI).

As per the report, Sayeed filed a writ petition seeking ex-gratia compensation after her husband's alleged death due to a COVID-19 vaccine adverse event (AEFI). In response, the HC issued an interim order directing the Health Ministry and NDMA to draft compensation guidelines within three months.

The Centre challenged this order, arguing that vaccination was voluntary and that AEFI does not qualify as a 'disaster' under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which would otherwise make statutory compensation applicable.

It also argued that the HC should not have issued any interim order since a similar matter, Rachana Gangu and Anr vs Union of India, is already pending before the Apex Court.

Meanwhile, before the review petition could be decided, a contempt petition was filed for failing to comply with the interim order, prompting the HC to issue a notice.

As a result, the Union approached the SC with the current Special Leave Petition (SLP). Additionally, it has also filed a transfer petition requesting that the case be moved from the HC to the SC and heard alongside the Rachana Gangu matter.