The <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bombay-hc-seeks-security-audit-details-from-police-for-judges-residences-and-court-buildings-23616484" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bombay High Court</a> has directed Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to pay compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the widow of an employee who died due to COVID-19 in April 2021.
A bench of Justice Makarand Karnik and Justice Shriram Modak in its February 24 order, a copy of which was made available on Friday, noted that the widow, Sunita Bapu Jagtap, was entitled to compensation.
<h2>Widow&rsquo;s plea rejected</h2>
She had challenged the MSRTC&rsquo;s decisions of January 2022 and March 2023 rejecting her compensation claim stating deceased Bapu Jagtap &ldquo;was not assigned essential services and he was not the driver involved in the interstate transport&rdquo;.
The HC, however, noted that <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/salary-hike-arrears-credited-to-86000-msrtc-employees-says-minister-pratap-sarnaik-23618275" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">MSRTC </a>had taken a narrow view and &ldquo;forgot the precarious situation prevailing during COVID when no one was ready to go out of the house to discharge their duties&rdquo;.
The court added that the deceased may have got the virus while discharging his duty.
The life of the general public came to a standstill and public services, including transport, were kept open for limited services, the HC said.
<h2>&lsquo;Driver risked his life&rsquo;</h2>
&ldquo;It was part of the duty of the husband of the petitioner to attend the job, which he had done at the risk of his life,&rdquo; the bench noted. The MSRTC cannot avoid its responsibility, HC said while directing it to pay R50 lakh as compensation to the petitioner.
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Bombay High Court orders MSRTC to pay Rs 50 lakh to the widow of an employee who died from COVID-19 in April 2021, ensuring rightful compensation

Bombay High Court orders MSRTC compensation for employee’s COVID-19 death

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A bench of Justice Makarand Karnik and Justice Shriram Modak in its February 24 order, a copy of which was made available on Friday, noted that the widow, Sunita Bapu Jagtap, was entitled to compensation.

Bombay HC directs MSRTC to pay Rs 50 lakh to COVID-19 widow

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