All states and Union Territories were directed by the Supreme Court to ensure payment of compensation to family members of COVID-19 victims without wasting any time.
A bench of Justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna said that any claimant who is not compensated or gets his compensation rejected can approach the grievance redressal committee concerned.
The bench also directed the grievance redressal committee to decide the application of any claimant within four weeks time frame.
Regarding the plea alleging transfer of funds by the Andhra Pradesh government from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to personal deposit accounts, the bench directed the funds be transferred to the SDRF account within two days.
The bench said that all the states are directed to see that the compensation is paid to eligible person without any delay.
It also reiterated that if any claimant has any grievance he can approach the concerned grievance redressal committee and closed the matter.
The Apex court had given a last opportunity to the Andhra Pradesh government for filing its response on a plea alleging transfer of funds by the state from the SDRF to personal deposit accounts
The court has strictly said no to the state government from diverting the funds and issued notice to it in the matter.
Appearing for the petitioner Palla Srinivas Rao ,the advocate Gaurav Bansal had submitted that Andhra Pradesh has diverted funds from the SDRF to personal deposit accounts which is not permissible under the Disaster Management Act.
The lawyer had alleged state government of misusing funds of SDRF which are for other purposes than specified under Section 46 (2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 which is unethical and wrong.
The advocate has asked court to take action in the case and give relief to people in need.