New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) After the Delhi High Court allowed a high powered committee set-up by the Delhi government to probe deaths due to lack of Oxygen during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Kejriwal government on Tuesday welcomed the court’s decision.
“We respect the court's direction and express our gratitude at the same time. The Delhi Government has been serious about the deaths in the capital due to lack of oxygen during the Corona pandemic. The Delhi Government wants the truth to come out in front of everyone. Surprisingly, the Delhi Government sent the file in this regard twice to the LG but he refused to give his nod. Finally, today the court has upheld the stance of the Delhi Government,” a statement shared by the city government said.
The Delhi High Court today gave a nod to the functioning of the High Power Committee (HPC) to look into the matter of providing compensation to people who died due to lack of oxygen during the second wave.
Delhi government’s decision to set up the panel had earlier been stayed by the L-G on more than one occasion. The HC passed the order while hearing a woman’s petition arguing there was no reasonable justification for stalling the functioning of the High Powered Committee as the issues like health or grant of ex gratia monetary reliefs or other benefits to the affected sections of society are matters which fall “within the exclusive domain of the Government of Delhi”.
The woman, whose husband died of Covid-19 in May at a private hospital, had argued that non-operationalisation of the committee was arbitrary and smacks of mala fide.
The Committee has been asked by the government to probe the deaths in such cases where complaints are that the people died on account of oxygen shortage. The Committee is expected to draw up criteria for compensation limited to a maximum of Rs 5 Lakh each.
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