On 15 December 2022, the Delhi High Court urged the government to proceed with the ex gratia payment to the wife of a police constable dead while on duty during the first wave of COVID-19.
In March 2020, the cabinet had already announced that families of anyone dead while performing COVID-related duties as mandated by the government would have been entitled to ex gratia payment. In May 2020, the cabinet also announced that the petitioner would have received an ex gratia payment. The petitioner however complained that the payment was not carried out.
The court pointed out that the government had made a clear announcement and that the news regarding ex gratia payment had spread among the public. The court also pointed out that the issue required an “empathetic” consideration. The court therefore urged the government to proceed with the payment.
