Centre tells SC: Can't pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to kin of Covid victims
The Centre stated that providing such compensation would entail a huge financial liability.
FollowThe Narendra Modi government has submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court in which it said that it could not pay Rs 4 lakh compensation as sought for the next of kin of those who succumbed to Covid-19.
The Centre stated that providing such compensation would entail a huge financial liability.
The government, however, clarified that it had already made payments and introduced many measures for the needy persons.
The affidavit came after a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking 'minimum standards of relief' and ex-gratia payment for Covid-19 deceased.Â
The Centre highlighted that the Union government and state governments had spent a massive amount for the needy persons to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic and that their finances are already overstretched.
Citing that compensation, the government said that as per the Disaster Management Law, any such payouts apply only to natural disasters like earthquake or floods and that given the pandemic's massive scale, it would be inappropriate to apply the law to Covid-19.
The Supreme Court will hear the case on Monday.
