Delhi High Court Orders ₹1 Crore Ex-Gratia To Kin Of School Vice Principal Who Died Of COVID-19 While Supervising Relief Work
The Delhi High Court has set aside the Delhi Government's decision denying ex-gratia compensation to the kin of a government school Vice Principal who succumbed to COVID-19 during the second wave.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav allowed the plea filed by the widow of late Dr. Raja Ram Singh and directed the authorities to release ₹Rs. 1 crore compensation under the Delhi Government's COVID relief scheme within six weeks.
The petitioner, widow of the deceased Vice Principal and Head of School at a government school in Sangam Vihar, challenged the order passed on November 03, 2023, by the Group of Ministers (GoM), which had denied ex-gratia compensation.
The deceased had been tasked with supervising a Hunger Relief Centre set up in the school during the pandemic and was actively engaged in distribution of dry rations and mid-day meals in compliance with official directions.
He contracted COVID-19 in May 2021 while performing the said duties and later died in the hospital.
The Government rejected the claim on the ground that the deceased was performing “routine duties” as a Vice Principal and not specifically assigned “COVID duty”, falling outside the ambit of the Cabinet decision granting Rs 1 crore ex-gratia to COVID warriors.
Allowing the plea, the Court said that it was undisputed that the deceased was deployed at the Centre which was designated by the District Magistrate.
It added that the factum of the death of deceased remained undisputed that he died due to covid-19 and that he was admitted to the hospital, where he had expired.
The Court said that the deceased was performing covid-19 duty which could be reassured from the statement given by the Deputy Director through the GoM.
“Looking at the purpose of the scheme that was enacted, the Court finds that the petitioner is entitled for ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 1 Crore. Accordingly, the order dated 03.11.2023 is set aside,” the Court said.
“The Court, therefore, directs the respondents to grant the petitioner ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 1 Crore within a period of six (6) weeks from today,” it added.
Title: PREM SHEELA KUMARI v. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE & ANR