The Gujarat Government formed a scrutiny committee on October 29 to certify compensation claims by relatives of the deceased. Families who lost their loved ones due COVID-19 had applied for the compensation.
For which Supreme Court of Thursday slammed the State Government for being insensitive.
Justice M.R. Shah said,” This cannot be done to people who have already suffered so much. The Government should extend a helping hand rather than be adversarial. Your offers take it in an adversarial way. People are still suffering and that is the reality.”
Notification was issued by the state Government on October 29 and formed a scrutiny committee for which the Court criticized them. SC had approved the proposal by National Disaster Management Authority. Justice Shah said, “court had ordered setting up of committees at district level for hearing grievance of families. There was no requirement of scrutiny committee.” And threatened to summon the Chief Secretary.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta spoke for Gujarat Government said, “finances of the government are already stretched.” To which Justice Nagarathna said, “What is to be paid to the families is just Rs.50000 whereas their bills might have crossed 6 to 7 lakh. “The Solicitor General was given time till Monday to advise Gujarat Government.
