New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed all state governments and union territories to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with the member secretary of the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) to fight the spread of COVID-19 so that ex-gratia amount to be paid. Families of those who lost their lives in the pandemic.
Along with this, the Supreme Court has said that in the light of getting the data from the states, compensation should be given to the casualties within a maximum of 10 days. A bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice BV Nagarathna directed the state governments to furnish complete information about the orphans along with name, address and death certificate to the concerned State Legal Services Authority within seven days from today (Friday). And said that failing to do so, the matter would be taken very seriously.
The court said that it had said in its previous order that the state governments should give complete details of deaths related to COVID-19 recorded on their portal as well as those who have been paid ex-gratia amount, notwithstanding , it appears that most of the states have given only figures and no full details.
The bench said that the purpose of giving total details behind the previous request was to at least examine the cases which are listed with the state governments and in which the appropriate authorities have not been approached for compensation.
Legal Services Authority will work as a bridge
The court said, “The legal services authorities will reach out to them and see that they apply and they will act as a bridge. Similarly, the details about the orphans have not been given. We are asking all the state governments about their names,” the court said. , address, death certificate, etc., and send the orphan children to the concerned State Legal Services Authority within a week from today.”
Failure to do so will result in serious consideration of the matter. The top court said that it would be the endeavor of the Legal Services Authority to reach out to the victims, who have not been contacted so far for any reason.
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