No ex-gratia payouts for Covid deaths, says govt

NEW DELHI: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that ex gratia amount of ₹4 lakh cannot be paid to the families of those who have died of Covid-19 as it is beyond fiscal affordability and the finances of central and state governments are under severe strain, with the possibility of such payouts having the “unfortunate consequences” of affecting the pandemic response.

In a 187-page affidavit filed in the SC on June 19, it said the central and state governments were already under severe financial burden due to reduction in tax revenues and increase in health expenses on account of the pandemic. The ministry of home affairs said Covid-19 was different from 12 notified natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in which ₹4 lakh ex gratia is usually provided from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The ministry was responding to petitions filed by two lawyers — Gaurav Bansal and Reepak Kansal — seeking ex gratia for families of those who died of Covid-19. The SC, on May 24, asked for Centre’s response, while saying there should be a uniform policy for issuing death certificates to those succumbing to the disease.