COVID induced deaths should be mentioned in death certificate: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court called for a uniform policy and guidelines in issuing a certificate for deaths caused by the COVID.

Instead of notifying the COVID induced deaths, certificates were given mentioning heart attack or lung failure as the cause of deaths, the SC bench comprising of Ashok Bhushan and M.R. Shah observed while hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal.

The plea asked for Rs 4 lakh compensation to kin of each person who died after contracting Covid-19.

"As per Section 12 (iii) of the Disaster Management Act2005, NDMA is duty-bound to provide ex-gratia assistance on account of loss to the persons affected by Disaster," said the plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal.

Subsequently, The top court issued notice to the Centre and ICMR to state policy in connection with Disaster Management Act. The bench has asked the Centre's counsel to file a response on "whether there is a uniform policy for issuance of death certificate".

The plea also urged the top court to issue directions to the Centre and state governments to provide social security and rehabilitation to victims of Covid-19 victims.

"As per Section 12 (iii) of the Disaster Management Act-2005, it is the duty of the respondents (Centre and state governments) to provide minimum standards of relief to all the families whose members have died due to Covid-19 while providing their services in relief operations or while such persons were associated with preparedness activities to combat Covid-19 pandemic," added the plea.