SC Directs Centre To Frame Guidelines To Pay Ex-Gratia Compensation To Kin Of Covid Victims

Supreme Court also directed the National Disaster Management Authority to ascertain within 6 weeks ex-gratia amount that can be paid to the family members of those who died due to COVID

Supreme Court

New Delhi: Supreme Court of India has directed the Union of India to frame guidelines to pay ex-gratia compensation to the families of those who died due to COVID-19. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Ashok Bhsuhan, in its judgement, also directed the National Disaster Management Authority to ascertain within 6 weeks ex-gratia amount that can be paid to the family members of those who died due to COVID. 

In a petition filed in the Supreme Court, there has been a demand for financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh from the government to the families of the patients who lost their lives due to corona. During the first hearing on this matter, the central government had called it financially impractical to pay compensation.

The government had argued that this would empty the disaster relief fund of the states. The government had said that more than giving financial compensation, the focus is on the arrangements being made to deal with Corona and the welfare of the poor.

(This is a developing story. More details awaited.)