The Supreme Court on Friday directed states governments not to reject Covid death claims on technical grounds and gave 10 days’ time to pay compensation from the time such an application is submitted by a bereaved family.
The bench, which has been monitoring implementation of its order to give Rs 50,000 to all families which lost their dear ones due to the pandemic, expressed displeasure over the delay on the part of some of the states in reaching out to the families.
The court said as a welfare state, it was the duty of the government to help out people. “You are not doing charity. As a welfare state, it is your duty. Why are you sending people from pillar to post. Do it from the bottom of the heart,” the bench told the Maharashtra government which had rejected over 60,000 claim applications.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by social activist Gaurav Bansal on whose plea it had passed the order for grant of compensation to the families of Covid victims.
