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The Central Government today moved the Supreme Court seeking extension of time by another four weeks (till mid September) for framing a comprehensive and robust ex gratia payment scheme for kin of deceased CoVID patients.

It has been submitted that the exercise to frame appropriate guidelines for payment of ex gratia payment to the victims of CoVID 19 Disaster under Section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 is in active consideration with the National Disaster Management Authority (“NDMA”) and ongoing. 

“This exercise though at an active stage requires a little more in depth examination before the same is finalised and implemented. Any accelerated formulation may result in undesirable results,” plea states.

On June 30, 2021, bench of former Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice MR Shah in para 16(1) had directed the NDMA to frame appropriate guidelines within a period of six weeks making recommendation for payment of ex gratia assistance on account of loss of life to the family members of the persons who died due to CoVID 19 in accordance with the mandated under of Section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 which makes provision of minimum standards of relief to be provided to the persons affected by disaster ie CoVID 19 pandemic. 

The petitioner Gaurav Kumar Bansal in the plea filed before the Supreme Court had sought directions to the Centre and States to provide ex gratia compensation to all families whose members have died due to CoVID 19 virus while providing services in relief operations or when they were associated with preparedness activities to combat CoVID 19 pandemic. Plea had also sought for provision of social security and rehabilitation to victims of CoVID 19.

Case Title: Gaurav Kumar Bansal v. Union of India & Ors | WP(C) 539/2021