Supreme Court Pulls Up Rajasthan Govt Over Unsatisfactory Affidavit On COVID-19 Death Compensation

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Rajasthan Government over an "unsatisfactory" affidavit filed regarding the steps on ex-gratia payment to the family members of people who had died due to CoVID-19. The bench observed that, "Affidavit filed by the Rajasthan Government is not satisfactory at all."

"State is not doing any charity. There is a direction issued by this court and persons affected by COVID-19 should be treated with sympathy", the bench comprising of Justices M. R. Shah and Krishna Murari observed. The counsel appearing for the State of Rajasthan apprised the Court that all necessary steps are being taken. Accordingly, the matter has been posted to Friday.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Gaurav Kumar Bansal regarding ex-gratia compensation to the family of people who had died due to CoVID-19. The Supreme Court had directed last year that Rs. 50000 compensation should be given to the families of people who had died and the amounts to be disbursed from the State Disaster Response Funds.

Bansal had alleged that the State of Rajasthan was not adhering to this order of the top court and had also sought directions calling for the status reports to be filed by the State Legal Services Authorities regarding enforcement of the order.

In July 2022, the Court had directed all State Governments to see to it that the ex-gratia compensation payable to the kins/family members of the persons who have lost their lives to COVID-19, as per the earlier orders and judgment of the Apex Court, be disbursed without any delay.

The Court had further observed that claimants raising grievances regarding non-payment of the compensation or rejection of claim may approach the Grievance Redressal Committee constituted by the State Governments.

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