Despite the central government’s plea that Rs four lakh ex-gratia cannot be paid to all those who died due to COVID, the Supreme Court today directed the Centre to frame guidelines to fix the amount of ex gratia to be provided to the families. 

Furthermore, the apex court has ordered the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to issue fresh guidelines within six weeks for providing financial help as per the minimum standards of relief. 

It also said that it is up to the government to decide the amount that is to be paid as ex gratia. The court’s order came in response to a plea seeking an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh each to the families of all those who died due to the virus.

The Centre had submitted by affidavit that state governments cannot afford to pay this. The Supreme Court dismissed the Centre’s plea that ‘no such ex gratia can be paid’. On June 19, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that Rs four lakh ex-gratia cannot be paid to all those who died due to COVID.

In response, the apex court directed the NDMA to create minimum standards for relief so that some amount of compensation could be paid.

“Ex gratia compensation will have financial implications. No state or country has unlimited financial resources. It is not appropriate for this court to direct payment of the particular amount of four lakh. Priority is to be fixed by the government,” the Supreme Court was quoted as saying in a media report.

Meanwhile, the SC also directed authorities to issue guidelines for simplification of the process of issuance of death certificates in case of COVID fatalities.

As per the health ministry, 398,454 people have succumbed to the virus so far.