Covid And Compensation

The Court has pulled up state governments for failing to disburse claims to the next of kin of Covid-19 victims and expressed displeasure over fake certificates being issued by doctors to justify the deaths

- Mansi Sharma and India Legal Bureau

STEALING AID

The centre informed the Supreme Court that it will file details of alleged fake applications for Covid-19 death compensation

The Supreme Court has clarified that if both parents of a child have died due to Covid-19, the child will be entitled to a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the death of each parent. A clarification was sought by the State of Assam as to whether each of the children of the deceased parents will be provided the ex-gratia payment by the state (in case there is more than one child), i.e. Rs 50,000 compensation to be given to each of the children.

The SC bench of Justices MR Shah

BV Nagarathna observed that it never imagined that a “pious exercise like compensating families of those who died due to the pandemic would be misused.

The bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna said on March 14, 2022: “In fact, our earlier order is very clear and that ex gratia payment of Rs. 50,000/shall be qua each death. Therefore, it is observed and clarified that if there are more than one child, any of the child-only one child/family member as the case may be shall get the ex gratia payment of Rs.50,000/-

It is further observed and clarified that however in case both the parents have died in that case the child/children shall get Rs.50,000/- qua each death i.e. one for the deceased father and another for the deceased mother, noted by the bench in its order.