Supreme Court directs all states to follow Centre’s Rs 50,000 ex-gratia scheme for COVID-19 victims
The bench added that the Grievance Redressal Committee can examine medical records of deceased patient and take a call within 30 days and order the compensation.
FollowThe Supreme Court on Monday directed all states to follow Centre's guidelines of granting Rs 50,000 ex gratia compensation for all those who died due to Covid-19 in India.
A bench comprising Justices MR Shah and AS Bopanna said, “The next kin of the deceased shall be paid an amount of Rs 50,000 and it will be over and above the amounts paid by Centre and state under various benevolent schemes.”
“No state shall deny the Rs 50,000 benefit on the ground that cause of death in death certificate is not Covid-19. The district authorities will take remedial steps to have the cause of death corrected. District level committee details to be published in the print media,” ruled the Supreme Court.
The bench added that the Grievance Redressal Committee can examine medical records of deceased patient and take a call within 30 days and order the compensation. Such committee will have the power to call for records from the hospitals.
The bench also said that the next kin of the deceased shall be paid an amount of Rs 50,000 and it will be over and above the amounts paid by centre and state under various benevolent schemes, LiveLaw reported.
The top court further said that the payment will be from state disaster relief funds.
The Centre had informed the Supreme Court last month that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended that Rs 50,000 be given to the kin of those who died of Covid-19.
The government earlier had said that ex-gratia assistance will also be given to the kin of those who died of the virus due to involvement in Covid-19 relief operations or activities associated with the preparedness for dealing with the pandemic.
