The Supreme Court Monday reserved its verdict on pleas seeking directions that ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh be paid to those who lost one or more family members to Covid-19. <br /> <br />A special vacation bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah heard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate S B Upadhyay and other lawyers on the matter for almost two hours. <br /> <br />The top court has asked involved parties to file written submissions in three days. <br /> <br />Meanwhile, the Centre has been directed to simplify the process of granting death certificates to dependents of those who have died of Covid-19. <br /> <br />The central government had earlier told the apex court that the ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh cannot be paid to families of Covid-19 victims since the finances of state governments and the Centre are under severe strain.
