Beneficiaries wait in a queue to receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Mumbai. (representative image)
The Supreme Court on Monday asked District Disaster Management Officers (DDMAs) and Grievance Redressal Committees to refrain from any technicalities and act as helpers, as it ruled that no state government can give an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to the kin of COVID-19 patients. Will not refuse help. victims, only on the ground that the death certificate did not mention a viral disease as the cause of death.
The Bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice AS Bopanna said, “All efforts shall be made by the District Disaster Management Authority/District Administration and even the Grievance Redressal Committee to avoid any technicalities and all concerned authorities shall act as a helping hand.” We will work to wipe the tears of those who have suffered the loss of a family member due to COVID-19.”
The top court also approved the Centre’s proposal to pay Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of those who died of the viral disease.
The bench said, “No State shall deny ex-gratia assistance of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of the deceased merely on the ground that the cause of death has not been mentioned in the death certificate issued by the appropriate authority. COVID-19 For.”
The bench said that the ex-gratia amount would be over and above the compensation/amount declared/provided by the Centre/States/UTs under various philanthropic schemes.
The bench said that the authorities at the district level should take remedial measures including issuance of revised official documents for the death of Covid after verifying the facts on production of necessary documents showing that the death was due to Covid.
Giving several directions, the bench said that ex-gratia compensation should be distributed within 30 days from the date of submission of application to the DDMA concerned, along with proof of death of a person due to Covid.
The bench said that if the cause of death is not mentioned in the death certificate as COVID, then the aggrieved party may approach the concerned officers of the district committee including Additional District Collector, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), Additional CMOH/Principal or HOD included. Medicine of a medical college (if present in the district) and a subject specialist, who will take remedial measures.
In accordance with the guidelines dated September 11 issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under section 12 (iii) of the DMA, 2005, the bench observed: “A family member of the deceased committed suicide within 30 days of being diagnosed. Because COVID positive will also be entitled to get financial assistance / ex-gratia assistance of Rs 50,000 given under SDRF (State Disaster Relief Fund).
To help the families of the victims, the top court said that the details of the authority to decide the applications for ex-gratia payment should be published in print and electronic media within a week.
The top court passed its orders on the guidelines framed by the NDMA after its June 30 judgment, which came on a PIL filed by advocates Gaurav Kumar Bansal and Ripak Kansal, seeking an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of Covid victims Was.
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