During the hearing a direction from the court came in which it asked the state government’s lawyer to seek instructions from the government on the issue and listed the matter got for hearing on November 24
In an important development over demand for considering the Indian nationals or Non-Resident Indians, who died due to Covid-19 abroad, in the list of Covid-19 victims in India, the Kerala High Court on sought the state government’s stand on the issue.
The court was hearing a plea seeking “declaration that family members of non-resident Keralites who died abroad due to Covid-19 are entitled to the ex-gratia relief of Rs 50,000.”
During the hearing a direction from the court came in which it asked the state government’s lawyer to seek instructions from the government on the issue. The matter got listed for hearing on November 24.
The court observed the issue raised by the petitioner’s lawyer as a “good point” even as the government lawyer tried to dilute the matter by questioning the authenticity of the organization, an NGO, Pravasi Legal Cell.
The Pravasi Legal Cell in its petition claimed that requests for ex-gratia relief by family members of Keralites who died abroad due to Covid-19 were being “arbitrarily” denied by the state government.
Meanwhile, the demand for considering the Indian nationals or Non-Resident Indians, who died due to Covid-19 abroad, in the list of Covid-19 victims in India, is going on for a long time.
A recent directive of the Delhi High Court in the month of August to the Indian Union Government made this issue more relevant, as the court directed the government to consider extend the compensation assistance to the family members of Indian citizens who died abroad due to Covid-19.
The court’s directive came following hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) case. It asked the government to consider as representation a petition to extend ex gratia assistance to the victim’s family members.
The Pravasi Legal Cell in its petition claimed that requests for ex-gratia relief by family members of Keralites who died abroad due to Covid-19 were being “arbitrarily” denied by the state government
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to decide on the representation in accordance with the law.
The Pravasi Legal Cell, in its petition, sought direction to the Indian missions abroad to collect and maintain proper data of Indian citizens who had died outside the country due to Covid-19
The Pravasi legal Cell in its petition had requested the court to direct the authorities to decide the Cell’s pending representation of July 5 on the issue.
The Cell in its petition had sought direction to the Indian missions abroad to collect and maintain proper data of Indian citizens who had died outside the country due to Covid-19.
The petition also sought direction to include the children who had lost both parents or a surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to the virus abroad but who were Indian citizens under the PM CARES for Children scheme.
The Pravasi Legal Cell, in its petition, sought direction to the Indian missions abroad to collect and maintain proper data of Indian citizens who had died outside the country due to Covid-19.
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