Society won't forget us if we don't take care of doctors: Supreme Court in COVID-19 compensation case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday emphasised that society must stand with medical professionals, particularly those who sacrificed their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan was hearing a petition moved by the kin of medical professionals who died during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the Union government's 'Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting Covid-19'.

"Society wouldn’t forget us if we don’t take care of our doctors. The first profession that protects human life is the doctor....this country wouldn’t forget us if we don’t stand by doctors and take care of them," Justice Narasimha remarked.

The case has its origins in a petition filed before Bombay High Court by a woman over the denial of compensation on account of the death of her spouse, who was purportedly asked by the State to keep his dispensary open during the pandemic. The top court later allowed other petitioners to join the proceedings, considering that the matter raises an issue of nation-wide concern.

Today, the Court observed that it would not examine individual claims, but issue guidelines to decide the claims.

"Give the data to us and some information about other parallel schemes that are available apart from the present Pradhan Mantri scheme. We will lay down some principles," the Court told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati.