Covid: Reconsider decision to exclude those who died by suicide from compensation, SC tells Centre

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to reconsider its decision to exclude those who were infected with Covid-19 and died by suicide, from getting compensation under the government’s guidelines, reported Bar and Bench.

The statement came after the Centre issued new guidelines to simplify the process of giving death certificates to people who died after contracting the infection.

The guidelines stipulate that cases that have been identified through an RT-PCR/Molecular Test/Rapid Antigen Test, or that have been clinically determined in a hospital or an in-patient facility by a doctor while one is admitted there will be considered as Covid-19 cases, The Indian Express reported.

Deaths due to poisoning, suicide, homicide and accidents will not be classified as coronavirus fatalities, even if the infection is an accompanying condition.

The Centre has submitted these guidelines to the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions by two lawyers seeking directions to the Centre and state governments to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to families of those who died due to Covid-19. Four people who lost their family members due to the infection have also filed intervening petitions in the matter.

On Monday, a bench headed by Justice MR Shah told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Centre, that it did not prima…

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