"1 Crore Ex-Gratia Promised By CM Not Given Even After 1 Yr": Wife Of Constable Who Died Due To COVID Moves Delhi HC, Notice Issued

The wife of Constable (Late) Amit Kumar, who was the first policeman in the national capital to die due to coronavirus, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking the release of ex gratia amount of Rs.1 crore as promised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Bench of Justice Amit Bansal issued the notice to the Delhi Government, among others and listed the matter for further hearing on July 23 and directed the respondents to filed their counter affidavit within 4 weeks. 

The Delhi government, in May 2020, had announced Rs 1 crore ex-gratia to the kin of Delhi Police constable Amit Kumar who had died of COVID-19. In one of his tweets, Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had condoled the death of Kumar and had said his family will be provided with an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore.

The Court was hearing the writ petition filed on behalf of the petitioner, Pooja, the wife of late Constable Amit Kumar who died on account of COVID-19 on 5th May, 2020.

Her Counsel relied upon the tweet by the Chief Minister of Delhi and contended that the sacrifice made by the husband of the petitioner had been noticed and it had been announced that his family will be given an ex gratia amount of Rs.1 crore.

Further, the Counsel submitted that the said amount had not been given, even one year after the said tweet.

Accordingly, the instant petition was filed to seek a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to release the aforesaid ex gratia amount of Rs.1 crore as promised by them.

The additional standing counsel, the Delhi government, averred before the Court the compensation had been delayed due to administrative reasons. Without disputing the CM's tweet, he said that the Delhi government was taking steps to disburse compensation to various people.

As reported by The Indian Express, 32-year-old Delhi Police constable, Kumar died six hours after he tested positive for coronavirus and he had complained of breathlessness, a slight fever, and cough following which he was tested for the virus.

Case title - Pooja vs State Of Gnct Of Delhi & Ors

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