SC applauds Centre for providing Rs 50K ex gratia to Covid victims' kin
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday congratulated the centre for providing Rs 50,000 ex-gratia assistance to the kin of those who died in the Covid pandemic.
A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna said they are "very happy" with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines. "We are very happy. This will bring solace to a lot of people.... it will wipe the tears of many" said the apex court.
According to NDMA guidelines, Rs 50,000 ex-gratia assistance will be paid to the families of those who died due to Covid-19 by the states from the SDRF.
The top court also appreciated the government's Covid management in the country and added: "We are happy that something is being done to wipe out tears of the person who suffered. We have to take judicial notice of the fact that what India has done, no other country could do."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed the Supreme Court about the NDMA guidelines, saying, "To ensure uniformity, we have decided that the states from SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) will give 50,000 to the kin of the deceased who died due to Covid."
"We cannot repair the loss, but we can do something," he added.
Mehta also clarified that families of those who committed suicide within 30 days of being diagnosed with Covid will also be eligible for financial assistance under the Disaster Management Act.
The Supreme Court was hearing an application seeking compliance with its June 30 judgement, in which it directed the NDMA to develop guidelines for granting compensation to the families of those who died as a result of Covid, and the Centre to issue guidelines to simplify the process of issuing death certificates in Covid cases.
The Centre filed a compliance affidavit in which it informed the Supreme Court about the NDMA guidelines drafted to fix the ex-gratia at Rs 50,000, as well as guidelines drafted to simplify the process of issuing death certificates. The Supreme Court has stated that it will issue an order in the matter on October 4.
