5 years after Covid warrior died, HC orders Rs 25 lakh aid

AHMEDABAD: Nearly five years after his death from Covid, Gujarat HC has ordered compensation of Rs 25 lakh for a corona warrior's family.

The benefit is in line with a state pandemic policy of April 2020, but govt had rejected an application by Ahmed Patel's widow on technical grounds. HC has directed govt to make the payment within six weeks to the family of Patel, who worked in a state-run fair price (ration) shop and was on emergency duty during the outbreak.

Patel was a weigh-man at the shop in Aachhod village of Bharuch, engaged in distribution of essential commodities on behalf of govt. Patel died on Aug 12, 2020. His widow Tahera's application was rejected by govt on Jan 9, 2023, on the ground that the district supply officer had not supplied within the prescribed time limit the list of employees engaged in emergency services.