Delhi HC declines to stay HPV vaccination drive, seeks Centre’s reply
The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the government's HPV vaccination drive, citing a lack of evidence regarding immediate harm. While the court allowed the program to continue, it ordered the Centre and health authorities to file detailed replies regarding safety protocols and adverse event monitoring.
Why it matters
This case balances public health initiatives against concerns over medical transparency and safety, setting a precedent for how courts handle challenges to national immunization programs.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) refused to stay the Centre’s ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive, saying the material placed before it did not show any immediate harm from the vaccine. At the same time, the court stressed that “half-baked vaccines” should not be administered and that all required protocols must be followed.
A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said the data submitted by the Centre on the administration of 5.5 million HPV vaccine doses to 14-year-old girls did not indicate any “instant harm” that would justify stopping the vaccination drive.
“Half-baked vaccines should not be administered. We are only to ensure that the necessary protocol is followed,” the court observed.
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