Kin of Covid-19 victims to get relief

Centre to pay family of those who died due to suicide after testing positive

After the Supreme Court’s push, the central government has agreed to consider financial assistance for family members of people who died by suicide within 30 days from being diagnosed as Covid positive.

In an additional affidavit submitted in the top court, the Ministry of Home Affairs urged the court to pass “suitable directions in this regard”.

Court cracks the whip

On Sept. 13, the top court had observed that there have been cases where people suffering from Covid-19 died by suicide and such people do not form part of the guidelines issued on Sept 3. It further added that such people should also be suitably considered for ex gratia, and they should also be included within the ambit of financial help sought to be given by Union of India under the guidelines which would be framed under Section 12 (iii) of the Disaster Management Act.

Then, a bench comprising justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna asked the Centre to consider suicide committed by Covid positive patients as Covid death cases to enable their family members for compensation. The bench had told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, “you say that suicide cases would not be covered. It cannot be accepted. What about persons who committed suicide because of suffering of Covid. Reconsider your decision”. Mehta had assured the court that government would re-examine the issue.