The Supreme Court directed all states governments and Union Territories to appoint dedicated nodal officers, not below the rank of Deputy Secretary in the Chief Minister's Secretariat, to coordinate with the member secretary of the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) to facilitate payment of ex-gratia compensation to family members of Covid-19 victims.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna said the nodal officer to ensure all eligible claimants apply for ex-gratia compensation. It also directed the state governments to give full particulars like name, address and death certificate to the concerned SLSA, and also complete details with respect to orphans, within one week from today, and failure to do so would entail serious consequences. The top court said that the endeavour of legal services authority would be to reach those sufferers or victims who have yet not been approached for whatever reasons.