Lekha G
The Supreme Court while hearing the petitions filed by Advocates Reepak Kansal and Gaurav Kumar Bansal urged the government to frame a uniform policy on Covid-19 death certificates.
The petition had sought the issue of the death certificates to Covid-19 deceased must specify the cause of death as Covid-19 and not the complications related to the virus.
The Bench contended that most of the times the reason specified in death certificate could have been triggered by Covid-19, “So, how are death certificate being issued?” it questioned the Government counsel. It further said that the exact reasons must be stated in the death certificate for families to avail benefit in future.
Justice Shah further said, “People will have to run from pillar to post if any compensation is to be given to the kin of Covid-19 victims. It is not fair to the family if the actual reason for death is Covid and the death certificate shows another reason.”
The Court was hearing the matter in connection with a plea that sought ex-gratia compensation of INR 4lakh to the families who lost their dear ones due to Covid-19 under Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.