"Not Above Law": Supreme Court Warns States Over Covid Compensation Delay
NDTV
In October the Supreme Court said no state could deny compensation and that the money should be disbursed within 30 days of the application being made
The Supreme Court on Wednesday lashed out at the Andhra Pradesh and Bihar governments, and grilled others - including Kerala - over the failure of, or delay in, payment of compensation to the families of those who died of Covid.
"They (the Andhra Pradesh and Bihar governments) are not above the law!" Justice MR Shah said, as the court demanded the respective Chief Secretaries be present for the 2 pm hearing.
"It is very unfortunate that despite earlier direction to pay compensation... time and again directions are issued...Total callousness on part of Andhra Pradesh... appears state is not at all serious in (complying) with orders of this court... no justification for not making payment," the court said.
Andhra Pradesh, the court noted, had reported around 36,000 compensation applications after an earlier order, of which 31,000 were found to be correct but only 11,000 have been paid so far.
