NEW DELHI:

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgement on the petitions seeking direction to authorities concerned, to provide ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of the deceased who succumbed to COVID-19.

The Supreme Court judges Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice M R Shah have asked the parties to submit the written submissions within three days.

On behalf of petitioners Reepak Kansal and Gaurav Kumar Bansal, Senior lawyer S Upadhayay submitted before the apex court that it is the 'conditional duty and obligation of the state' to help the persons (patients) affected by COVID-19, adding that 'there is a humanitarian distress'.

The centre on Monday through an affidavit informed the Supreme Court that ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh cannot be paid to the family members of those who died due to COVID-19 because of financial constraints and other factors.

The centre maintained through the affidavit that it has introduced a lot of other measures for the needy persons instead.

Bansal, however, sought the direction of the court for guidelines or some kind of scheme as far as the ex gratia amount is concerned, and the apex court has sought time to deliberate on the matter before a decision on the same can be arrived at.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)

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