SC reserves order on extending time limit for claiming Covid death compensation

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its orders in the application filed by the Central government seeking a time limit for submitting claims for exgratia payment from authorities on the death of kin due to Covid19 and also seeking measures to monitor fake claimsA bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna indicated that it would set a time limit for 60 days from now for past deaths and 90 days for the future claimants to claim Rs 50000 ex gratia compensationThe bench said that a deadline of four weeks as suggested by the Centre for claiming ex gratia payment may not be sufficient as the families of the deceased would be distressed due to the loss of family membersFour weeks may not be an appropriate time period as the family concerned may be in shock and four weeks may not be a good time If there is a death then the family would need time to recover from the sorrow and then file claims the bench observedWith regards to the issue of fake claims the bench indicated that it might ask the National Disaster Management Authority to conduct a random survey of 5 per cent of the claims in four states which had a wide difference between number of claims and recorded deaths Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra Gujarat and KeralaSenior advocate R Basant appearing for the State of Kerala suggested that the matter should not be entrusted to the State Police and that the District Legal Services Authority could be asked to do a random verification of the claimsThe apex court said it will consider this aspect and will pass a direction on March 23Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre suggested fixing a deadline of four weeks to claim the ex gratia payment from authorities on the death of kin due to Covid19The Central government has filed an application seeking setting of a deadline of four weeks to claim the ex gratia payment from authorities on the death of kin due to Covid19Though the fatality rate due to Covid19 has substantially decreased it may be desirable to direct that if any death takes place due to Covid19 henceforth the eligible claimant can move a competent authority within a period of four weeks from the death the plea saidThe application stated that as both the state and central governments have received reports regarding the submission of fakeforged claims for Covid19 exgratia compensation the Centre asked the court to allow a probe into such instancesEarlier the apex court had expressed concern over misuse of its order to get exgratia Rs 50000 compensation for Covid19 death on the basis of fake medical certificateIt had indicated that it may order a probe into it by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India CAGSolicitor General while suggesting that there has to be a definite time limit for filing the application and availing the benefit of exgratia compensation by next of kin of those who have succumbed to the Covid19 pandemic had submitted that a limitation period should now be prescribed as the process cannot go on indefinitelyThe apex court was hearing a petition filed by lawyercumpetitioner Gaurav Kumar Bansal seeking an exgratia compensation for those family members who died due to the Covid19 pandemicEarlier the top court had approved the Centres disaster management guidelines on payment of Rs 50000 exgratia compensation to the next kin of those who died of Covid19 deaths and said the money to be disbursed within 30 days of applyingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever