Kerala: PM Modi’s picture will not be removed from vaccine certificate, HC rejects application; 1 lakh fine imposed on the petitioner

The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition seeking removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture from the certificate of corona vaccine. Along with this, the court has also imposed a fine of one lakh rupees on the petitioner for wasting the time of the court. The court had earlier questioned the petitioner during the hearing held earlier this month as to what was wrong with the Prime Minister’s photo on the vaccine certificate. The Kerala High Court on Tuesday said that the Prime Minister is not the leader of any political party but the leader of the nation and citizens need not be “shamed” in carrying vaccination certificates with his photograph and “morale-boosting message”.

The High Court said, “No one can say whether the Prime Minister is the Prime Minister of the Congress or the Prime Minister of the BJP or the Prime Minister of any political party. But once the prime minister is elected as per the constitution, he is the prime minister of our country and that post should be the pride of every citizen.” The court said, “…they may disagree with the policies of the government and even the political stand of the prime minister. But citizens need not be ashamed to carry the vaccination certificate with the picture of the Prime Minister with a morale boosting message especially in this pandemic situation.”

The court also said that while the COVID-19 pandemic can be ended only by vaccination, if the Prime Minister conveys a message in the certificate with his photograph that with the help of medicine and strict control, India will defeat the virus, then it will be ” What is wrong?” The court dismissed the petition imposing a fine of Rs one lakh and observed that the petition was filed “for propaganda with frivolous, ulterior motives” and that the petitioner probably had a “political agenda”.