HC upholds lower court order

Home dept had rejected Dehury's plea for grant of ex gratia, spl family pension in 2022

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Cuttack

THE Orissa High Court has directed the state government to pay ex gratia of ₹50 lakh as well as special family pension to Bharati Satpathy, widow of a police constable, Satyabadi Dehury who died of Covid-19 while on 'active line of duty' on October 12, 2021.

The state Home department had rejected the widow's application for grant of ex gratia and special family pension on July 7, 2022. She filed the petition challenging it on September 6, 2024.

Dehury died while undergoing treatment for Covid infection when he was posted in human resource management system (HRMS) section at the reserve police office at Angul.

Advocate Niranjan Singh, appearing on the widow's behalf, claimed relief in form of ex gratia of ₹50 lakh and special family pension under the Finance Department Resolution-2020.