The Central Govt, in an affidavit filed before the Apex Court, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 3,85,000 deaths, a number which is likely to increase further.

The Centre filed the affidavit before the Top Court while responding to the notice issued by the Supreme Court on pleas filed by lawyers, Deepak Kansal & Gaurav Bansal, seeking immediate, necessary, effective & appropriate directions & orders to the concerned authorities, including the Central Government, to pay financial help or ex gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh, as laid down by the Central Govt in its statut to the family members of the deceased, who succumbed to Covid-19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 3,85,000 deaths, a number which is likely to increase further," the Centre in its affidavit said.

The Centre said that it exceeded the number of deaths in any other natural disaster in the past, in the country.

"These deaths have affected families from all classes - the rich & poor, professionals & informal workers, & trader & farmers. The Government is fully conscious of the need to provide them the necessary help & support. However, it is not correct to state that such support could be provided only through ex-gratia assistance for those who have died," the Centre said, in its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court.

The affidavit reads, "In the current context of the pandemic, it would be a rather pedantic & narrow approach. A broader approach, which involves health interventions, social protection, & economic recovery for the affected communities, would be a more prudent, responsible, & sustainable approach".

It further said that globally, the Govts in other countries too have followed this approach, & have announced interventions that provide fiscal stimulus. The Govt of India has followed a similar approach, the affidavit said.

The Central Govt said that "In the case of various disasters, for which such ex gratia is provided under SDRF norms, the disaster is of a short & finite duration, occurring & ending quickly. Covid-19, on the other hand, is a global pandemic, which has affected all the countries in the world. Within our country, it has affected all the States / Union Territories, which have experienced several waves of Covid-19 cases".

It said that "There is no precedent of giving ex-gratia for an ongoing disease or for any disaster event of long duration, extending for several months or years. In fact, granting ex-gratia for one disease, while denying the same for those accounting for larger share of mortality, would not be fair or proper".

"It would create unfairness & invidious discrimination between persons suffering from one disease & those suffering from another. Further, unlike floods, earthquake, cyclone, etc., during the present COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of crores of rupees have been spent by Central Government & State Governments on prevention, testing, treatment, quarantine, hospitalization, medicines & vaccination etc & it is still continuing," read the affidavit.

The Centre said that it is not known that how much more is required.

"Thus, Central & State Governments are taking all possible measures to prevent & prepare for future waves of COVID-19.

Thereby the prayer of the petitioner for payment of ex-gratia to all deceased persons due to COVID-19 is beyond the fiscal affordability of the State Governments," the government said, adding that already the finances of the Central & state Governments are under severe strain, due to the reduction in tax revenues & increase in health expenses on account of the pandemic.

"Thus, utilisation of scarce resources for giving ex-gratia, may have unfortunate consequences of affecting the pandemic response & health expenditure in other aspects & hence cause more damage than good," the Central government said, in its affidavit, a copy accessed by the news agency, filed before the Supreme Court, revealed.

It is an unfortunate but important fact that the resources of the Govts have limits & any additional burden through ex-gratia will reduce the funds available for other health & welfare schemes, the UOI said.

The Centre further said that under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005, Section 12, it is the "National Authority" which is empowered to recommend guidelines for the minimum standards of relief, including ex-gratia assistance.

The Centre said, "This is the function entrusted to the Authority by the law passed by the Parliament. It is well settled through numerous judgements of the Supreme Court that this is a matter which should be performed by the authority, to whom it has been entrusted & not one where the Court will substitute its own judgement for the decision to be taken by the Executive".

It said, "Any attempt to second guess may create unintended & unfortunate Constitutional & administrative ramifications. It may also be noted that the term 'Ex-Gratia' itself connotes that the amount is not based on legal entitlement".

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