SC on Covid deaths ex-gratia : Order very clear

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday said its earlier order regarding ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to the family members of those who lost their lives due to COVID-19 is “very clear” and the payment is to be made for each death.

The apex court said this while dealing with an application filed by the Assam which had sought a clarification whether each of the children of the deceased parents would be provided ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000, in case there is more than one child. “In fact, our earlier order is very clear and the ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 shall be qua each death,” a bench of Justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna said.

“Therefore, it is observed and clarified that if there is more than one child, only one child/ family member, as the case may be, shall get ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000,” it said.

The top court observed that in case both the parents have died, the child shall get Rs 50,000 qua each death, that is one for the deceased father and another for the deceased mother. In an effort to provide some help to over 10,000 children who have lost both their parents to COVID-19, the apex court had on January 19 directed all the state governments to reach out to those kids and pay them compensation.  (PTI)