Time limits for Covid claims set at 2-3 months

For future deaths, 90 days’ time shall be provided from the date of death to file the claim for compensation, the NDMA said in a public notice

Representational image.: File photo

PTI   |   New Delhi   |    28.04.22  : The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday said the time limit for filing claims for compensation for Covid-19 deaths that occurred before March 20 would be two months, while for future such deaths it would be three months. 

The NDMA announced this in the wake of a Supreme Court order issued on March 24. Sixty days will be the outer time limit to file claims for compensation for deaths due to Covid-19 prior to March 20, 2022.

For future deaths, 90 days’ time shall be provided from the date of death to file the claim for compensation, the NDMA said in a public notice.

The earlier order to process the claims and make the actual payment of compensation within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the claim shall continue to be enforced.

If a claimant fails to apply within the prescribed window because of extreme hardship, he or she will be able to make a claim through the Grievance Redressal Committee and it will be considered on a case-to-case basis.

The NDMA said if it was found by the committee that a particular claimant could not make the claim within the stipulated time for reasons beyond his or her control, the case might be considered on merit.

In a bid to minimise the risk of fake claims, a random scrutiny of 5 per cent of the claim applications shall be made at the first instance.

If it is found that anyone has made a fake claim, the same shall be considered under Section 52 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the person will be liable to be punished accordingly, the NDMA said.

Kerala masks

The Kerala government on Wednesday brought back the mask mandate in the state in the wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases in many other parts of the country.