The Supreme Court has clarified that family members of doctors who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic are not required to establish that the deceased were formally requisitioned for COVID-related duties in order to receive insurance benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).
The apex court held that insisting on documentary proof of a specific government order or requisition would defeat the purpose of the welfare scheme, which was introduced as an emergency measure to support frontline healthcare workers during an unprecedented public health crisis. The court observed that doctors continued to provide medical services throughout the pandemic as part of their professional obligation, often at great personal risk.
Emphasising the realities of the pandemic, the court noted that medical professionals were expected to respond to the crisis regardless of whether a formal deployment order was issued. It ruled that the absence of a written requisition cannot be used as a ground to deny compensation to bereaved families.
The Supreme Court further stated that welfare schemes like PMGKY must be interpreted liberally, keeping in mind their humanitarian objective. Any narrow or technical interpretation, the court said, would undermine the intent behind extending financial protection to healthcare workers who served during the pandemic.
With this ruling, the court reinforced the principle that the contribution and sacrifice of doctors during COVID-19 should be acknowledged without placing additional procedural burdens on their families, ensuring timely and just access to insurance benefits
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