Kin of Covid-19 victims to get less than Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia amount, SC accepts govt's argument

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Centre must pay compensation to the family of Covid-19 victims and said it is not up to the government to decide the amount that is to be paid as the ex gratia.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Centre must pay compensation to the family of those who succumbed to Covid-19, but said the amount of compensation will be decided by government. Few days ago, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that Rs 4 lakh compensation cannot be paid to all those who died due to Covid-19 as it would exhaust the disaster relief funds. Ruling somewhat in favour of the government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to create minimum standards for relief so that some amount of compensation can be paid.