Compensation For COVID Deaths : Centre Moves Supreme Court Seeking Time Till Mid-September To Frame Guidelines

The Union of India has moved Supreme Court seeking a 4 weeks extension of time for National Disaster Management Authority to frame guidelines making recommendation for payment of ex-gratia assistance to dependents of those who succumbed to COVID-19

The Union of India through its application has sought an extension to enable the National Disaster Management Authority to come out with a comprehensive and robust guidelines.

The applicant has submitted that the exercise to frame appropriate guidelines for payment of ex-gratia payment to victims of Covid19 disaster is in active advanced stage and requires a little more in-depth examination before the same is finalised and implemented

"Any Accelerated formulation may result to undesirable results" the application has stated.

The Supreme Court through its judgement on 30th June 2021 had granted six weeks time to National Disaster Management Authority to frame guidelines for ex- gratia assistance on account of loss of life to the family members of persons who died due to Covid-19 according to mandate of Section 12(iii) of Disaster Management Act 2005.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah had delivered the judgment in the cases Gaurav Kumar Bansal vs Union of India and Reepak Kansal vs Union of India and others.

The petitioners, in their writ petitions filed before the Supreme Court, had sought directions to the Centre & States to provide ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 4 lakh to the family members of those who have succumbed to the COVID-19 disease and post COVID19 complications. The petitioners also sought a relief regarding simplification of process for issuance of death certificates of persons who lost lives due to COVID.

Now, the Centre is seeking further time of four weeks in addition to the six weeks period granted by the Supreme Court on June 30.