Supreme Court: Pulls up Gujarat government for forming a panel to investigate COVID compensation claims, also sought data from the Center
The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Gujarat government for setting up an inquiry committee for the distribution of ex-gratia (compensation) to the families of COVID-19 victims. The top court found that doing so was an attempt to violate its earlier order. The top court has also asked the central government to bring on record the data from various state governments regarding the distribution of ex-gratia for COVID deaths. The Center has also been asked to inform about the constitution of grievance redressal committees.
On October 4, the Supreme Court had approved an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 for the kin of COVID victims, as per the recommendation of the National Disaster Management Authority. The order was passed on a plea by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal and others. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, told a bench of Justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna that a revised resolution has been issued following the directions of the apex court. On November 18, the court had said that the inquiry committee was trying to quash the directions.
On Monday, Mehta admitted that the revised proposal needed some changes. To this the bench asked him who passed the first notification? Should someone take responsibility? When Mehta spoke of taking responsibility for it himself, the bench said that the officer concerned should be held responsible. On this, Mehta told the bench that the Additional Chief Secretary has attended the virtual hearing. The bench asked the secretary who prepared it? Who approved it? Whose brain is this?
The senior officer replied that the department had prepared its draft. And finally the competent authority approved. Then the bench clearly asked who is the competent authority? He said that the competent authority is the Chief Minister. The bench said that your Chief Minister does not know anything? what are you for? Isn’t this a product of your mind?
The court said that it is a bureaucratic attempt to delay and mess up the matter. Mehta cited some bogus claims regarding compensation. But the bench continued to reprimand the Gujarat government. The bench said it would take one year to get the certificate from the inquiry committee. The court said that if there are fake claims, it cannot become a hindrance to genuine people. Mehta assured the court that the concerns of the court would be addressed and the proposal would be modified. The next hearing will be on November 29.
