Kochi: The Kerala High Court has received a petition seeking aid for dependents of Indian citizens who died abroad due to COVID-19. While considering the plea on Friday, the court issued directives to make the Central Government and the National Disaster Management Authority respondents in the case.
Justice N Nagaresh, who heard the plea, also ordered to produce a copy of the letter written by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking permission to grant compensation to this section of the people in the state.
The petition was filed by Pravasi Legal Cell, an organization of expatriate Indians, alleging that COVID-19 compensation was being denied to families of people who succumbed to the disease while living in other countries. According to the petitioners, applications for aid were being rejected citing a condition that dependents of COVID-19 victims who died in India alone were eligible for the benefit.
“Such discrimination is a violation of the Fundamental Rights. Even though a memorandum was submitted to the government, no action was taken,” it said.
The state government informed the court that the Chief Minister had written to the Prime Minister over the matter on December 15 but no decision was conveyed to the state. Subsequently, the court posted the next hearing on February 24.
