[Ex-gratia compensation to COVID affected families] "Who listens to All India Radio?" SC pulls up Gujarat govt for not giving wide publicity to compensation scheme

A bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathan today pulled up the state of Gujarat for not giving wide publicity to the scheme constituted for providing ex-gratia compensation to the families of those affected by Covid-19.

"It appears some states have not given wide publicity in local newspapers or vernacular language news papers and local channels by giving full particulars of online portals and the grievance redressal committee for ex-gratia payment...", remarked the Bench.

The Court asked Advocate Rajat Nair appearing for the state of Gujarat about the modes of modes of publicity that they had deployed.

Nair informed Vourt that they had directed All India Radio to publicize the scheme.

To this the Court said,

"Who listens to All India Radio? Atleast use FM Radio, you are a vibrant government!"

"How will you reach the common man? They are waiting, struggling for Rs.50,000 compensation", added the bench.

Advocate Nair then submitted before Court that the state would engage vernacular newspapers and ask local channels to put out advertisements as well.

The bench responded by saying that it would take the matter again day after tomorrow too and directed the state of Gujarat to submit all details in an affidavit.

"Please use Local channels, Doordarshan, local vernacular newspapers", added the Court.

The Court further enquired about the latest position on compensation disbursal from the state of Maharashtra.

Advocate Sachin Patil thus informed the bench,

"We have received 84000 applications, disbursal has started, and around 8000 applicants have been have been paid."

Patil further told the Court that they would try to pay at least 50,000 applicants by December 30.

"Why till 30th? We can't give you so much time", asked the Court in turn.

"We have expedited process. We have a fully operative system now and per day 5000-6000 applications are being taken up. We have started today only, Your Lordship", replied Patil.

To this the bench said that the process was initiated only after the Court had ordered the states to do so.

Patil further informed the Court that Maharashtra had published about the compensation portal in over 120 newspapers across the state.

"It is very unfortunate that only 8000 people have been paid till now, we direct them to pay within one week", ordered the Court.

Recently, the Court had said that the Gujarat Government has attempted to overreach its order while appointing a scrutiny Committee for allowing ex-gratia compensation to the families of persons who died of Covid-19.

The state of Gujarat had then filed a fresh affidavit in pursuance of the Court's order and a new simplified scheme was constituted for the process to claim compensation without any hassle, which the top Court bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna had found to be satisfactory and in consonance with its earlier order.

Cause Title: Gaurav Kumar Bansal v. Union of India