The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that society would not forgive the judiciary if it failed to protect and support medical professionals, particularly those who sacrificed their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The observation came during the hearing of a petition challenging the exclusion of doctors and healthcare workers—who died while serving in private clinics, dispensaries, and non-recognised hospitals—from the Centre’s Covid-19 insurance coverage.
A bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice R. Mahadevan directed the government to ensure that valid insurance claims are settled promptly. The bench noted that it was wrong to assume that private doctors were only driven by profit motives.
Also Read – Industrial Output Expands 4% in September, Driven by Robust Manufacturing Growth
“Society wouldn’t forgive us if we don’t take care of our doctors. They are the first protectors of human life. We must stand by them,” Justice Narasimha remarked.
Court to Lay Down Broad Principles
The bench clarified that it would not adjudicate individual compensation claims but would instead establish general principles to guide the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) insurance scheme.
Justice Narasimha said, “We will not go into individual claims. We will just lay down the principles,” adding that the criteria would determine whether the deceased doctor was actively engaged in Covid-19 medical service and whether death occurred due to the infection.
Also Read – Trump Reiterates Claim That He Ended India-Pakistan Conflict, Credits Tariffs for Peace
Background of the Case
The court was hearing a plea filed by Pradeep Arora and others, challenging a 2021 Bombay High Court order that denied insurance benefits to private hospital staff unless their services were requisitioned by the state or central government.
One of the petitioners, Kiran Bhaskar Surgade, lost her husband — a private practitioner in Thane — to Covid-19 in 2020. Her insurance claim under the PMGKP was rejected because her husband’s clinic was not officially recognised as a Covid-19 hospital.
About the PMGKP Insurance Scheme
Launched in March 2020, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package provides an insurance cover of ₹50 lakh to healthcare workers involved in Covid-19 duties. The scheme was designed to offer financial security to families of medical personnel who lost their lives while combating the pandemic.
