On Monday, the Apex Court allowed a petition by the Central Govt to grant additional four weeks to frame "robust & comprehensive" scheme for ex-gratia payment for the kin of those who died of Covid-19, in compliance with the Supreme Court's judgement.
On June 30, the Supreme Court had directed the PM-headed National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to frame appropriate guidelines within a period of 6 weeks.
Taking up an application argued by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud & M R Shah extended the time for framing guidelines by a further 4 weeks.
However, the Court asked the Centre to place on the record by an affidavit setting out the compliance which has been effected in respect of other guidelines, except on which the extension of time has been sought & granted.
The other guidelines related to issuing of death certificates for Covid-19 victims. The court fixed the matter for September 3 for "verifying compliance".
In its plea, the Centre said the exercise to frame guidelines for payment of ex-gratia was in active consideration of the NDMA & going on.
Though at an advanced stage, it required a little more in-depth examination before it is finalised & implemented, the Govt said, adding any accelerated formulation may result into undesirable results.
On June 30, the Supreme Court had said the Centre failed to perform its statutory duty cast under Section 12 of the Disaster Management Act (DMA), to issue minimum standards of relief for families of those people who lost their lives to Covid-19.
The Supreme Court directed NDMA to recommend guidelines for ex gratia assistance on account of loss of life to the family members of the victims within six weeks. The pandemic was notified as a disaster on March 14, 2020.
With regard to death certificate, the court had then said "simplified" guidelines should also be prepared. The guidelines must specifically mention if the persons has died of Covid-19 or complications due to it, with a provision for getting the document corrected. It had also suggested the Union government to consider extending insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh announced under the PM Garib Kalyan Package to those working at premortem & came into direct contact of dead bodies of Covid-19 patients.
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