Cannot pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to Covid victims, would exhaust disaster funds: Centre tells SC

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Rs 4 lakh compensation cannot be paid to all those who died due to Covid-19 as it would exhaust the disaster relief funds.

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Rs 4 lakh compensation cannot be paid to all those who died due to Covid-19 as it would exhaust the disaster relief funds. The Centre’s affidavit came in response to a PIL seeking "minimum standards of relief" and ex-gratia payment to Covid-19 deceased. The Centre has said that compensation of Rs 4 lakh cannot be paid to victims of Covid-19 as the disaster management law mandating compensation applies only to natural disasters like earthquake, floods etc.