Nishka Srinivas Veluvali
Published On: January 19, 2022 at 18:47 IST
The Supreme Court on January 19, 2022, ordered the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar to appear personally before the Court over the non remittal of the Ex – Gratia Compensation to the kin of the victims of COVID – 19.
The Bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice Sanjiv Khanna ordered that, “They are not above the Law. Ask them to be present at 2 pm”.
The Bench passed the mentioned Order after considering the Plea with reference to the payment of Ex – Gratia Compensation of Rs 4 lakhs to the kins of those who couldn’t survive the attack of COVID – 19 as well as the post COVID complications.
The Supreme Court on June 30, 2021 had Ordered the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to formulate the guidelines for the remittal of the Ex – Gratia Compensation to the families of people succumbed to COVID 19.
The Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh appearing before the Court virtually assured the Court that all the people who have suffered due to COVID – 19 will be Compensated once their applications are reviewed.
Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have remained present through virtual mode. Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary has assured Court that the State shall ensure not a single claimant who is eligible of compensation shall be deprived of it.
The Chief Secretary of Bihar despite being connected could not speak due to the audio issues but the Advocate appearing for the State ensured the Court that all the possible efforts will be taken to aware the poor and illiterate so that they would fill their applications.
The Court furthermore added that no applications shall be Quashed on the grounds of technical problems and instead a chance to rectify their applications will be provided to the applicants through the Grievances Redressal Committee.
The Supreme Court had also Ordered that the children who had lost their parents due to this pandemic should also be included in the COVID – 19 compensations remitted by the States.
“We direct states to reach to those children who have lost both the parents or surviving parent and those particular are already uploaded on the Bal Swaraj Portal, so that amount of compensation can be paid to them.,” the Supreme Court Order states.