The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government to provide its opinion on a plea to release Rs 1 crore as ex gratia compensation to families of police officers who died while performing their duty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The petition was filed by five individuals, including two lawyers and a law student. The government has been asked to file a status report in response to the plea.
Delhi government counsel advocate Santosh Kumar Tripathi informed the bench that 75% of applications on this issue have already been disposed of by the authority concerned through individual petitions.
The petitioners argued that despite Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement in April 2020, that Rs 1 crore would be given to anyone who loses their life while serving COVID-19 patients, the amount has not been given to the families of 79 police officials who died on duty.
The petitioners appealed to the court to direct the Delhi government to release the ex gratia amount to all affected families of Delhi Police officers who expired on duty during the pandemic. The Delhi High Court will hear the matter next on May 19. (With inputs from PTI)
