Even Third Wave Will Be Over: SC Slams Centre Over Delay In Framing Covid Relief Guidelines

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Central government, had sought another week to file the ruling dispensation’s response.

Supreme Court (File Pic)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday criticized the Central government over the delay in framing guidelines regarding compensation to kin of those who died due to Covid-19 and said the third wave would be over by the time guidelines were framed.

The apex court gave the Centre time till September 11 to report compliance on issuance of certificates for Covid-19 deaths and framing of a national insurance scheme for disaster-related deaths.

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Central government, had sought another week to file the ruling dispensation’s response.

“By the time you will take steps, even the third wave (of Covid-19 pandemic) will be over. Our orders directing correction of death certificates was passed long back. You had agreed to file a response on our directions by today. We will now grant you a last opportunity,” said an apex court bench of Justices MR Shah and Aniruddha Bose.

The apex court posted the matter for further hearing on September 13.

The apex court had in its June 30 order said the Centre was required to pay ex-gratia compensation for Covid-19 deaths since Covid-19 was declared a notified disaster under the 2005 Act.

The apex court, however, did not fix the quantum of compensation and left it to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to fix the amount while framing the guidelines within six weeks. This was further extended by four weeks on August 16.

The apex court also directed the Central government to take appropriate steps in line with the Fifteenth Finance Commission’s recommendations providing for a National Insurance Scheme for disaster-related deaths.