Decoded | Compensation for Covid-19 deaths

The Supreme Court Monday reserved its verdict on pleas seeking directions that ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh be paid to those who lost one or more family members to Covid-19.

A special vacation bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate S B Upadhyay and other lawyers on the matter for almost two hours.

The top court has asked involved parties to file written submissions in three days.

Meanwhile, the Centre has been directed to simplify the process of granting death certificates to dependents of those who have died of Covid-19.

The central government had earlier told the apex court that the ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh cannot be paid to families of Covid-19 victims since the finances of state governments and the Centre are under severe strain.