New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) Expressing displeasure over the delay in payment of assistance to the kin of Covid-19 victims, the Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Andhra Pradesh and Bihar governments and said it may seek help from the state and district legal services authorities.
Justice M R Shah and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said that despite repeated orders against delays in providing assistance to the families of the victims, the authorities were not taking the matter seriously.
The bench said: “In many states the number of claims filed for death due to Corona is less than the official deaths. It seems many governments are not taking pro-active steps. In this situation, we may have to take the help of the State and District Legal Services Authority to get the relief amount to the victims.”
The bench expressed displeasure over the attitude of the Andhra Pradesh and Bihar governments and directed their Chief Secretaries to appear personally (through virtual medium) on Wednesday.
The apex court, while hearing petitioner Gaurav Bansal, said the Andhra Pradesh government had received more than 36,000 applications for Covid-19 compensation but only 11,000 applicants have been paid the amount.
The court said it should be explained why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the officer.
The Supreme Court expressed surprise that only 12,000 people died of Covid-19 in Bihar. "Barring Bihar, the number has increased in all other states after our order."
The Bench said: "We want real facts."
The judges asked the counsel for the Bihar government to ask the Chief Secretary to present his case.
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