Snehal Upadhyay –
Published on: August 16, 2021 18:20 IST
The Supreme Court on Monday decided to grant four weeks to the Centre in order to frame guidelines for making recommendations for payment of ex-gratia assistance to dependents of those who succumbed to COVID-19.
A two-judge bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah was dealing with a petition which was filed by the Union of India which was claiming a four weeks extension of time for the National Disaster Management Authority for formulating guidelines with respect to the Apex Court’s order.
The Centre submitted that the work towards framing appropriate guidelines for ex-gratia payment to victims of the Covid-19 disaster is at its active and advanced stage, hence it requires a little more detailed examination before the same is finalised and implemented.
The petitioners approached the Apex Court by filing a writ petition and wanted to get the Court to give directions to the Centre & States to provide ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 4 lakh to the family members of those who have lost their bread runners to the COVID-19 disease and post COVID-19 complications.
The petitioners also sought relief regarding simplification of the process for issuance of death certificates of persons who lost lives due to COVID.
On June 30 the Supreme Court gave six weeks to the Centre for formulating the guidelines
Also Read: Supreme Court directs NDMA to frame guidelines for Ex-Gratia Relief to COVID-19 victims