JUDGMENT

Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral) - This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.

2. In the present case, the Petitioner is the husband of late Smt. Rachel Varghese (`the deceased'), who was working with the Respondent No. 3 Medeor Hospital, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi (formerly known as Rockland Hospital) as a Quality Manager in the Blood Bank which is in close proximity of the Intensive Care Unit (`ICU').

3. According to the Petitioner, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the deceased continuously attended to the duties in the Blood Bank in the Respondent No. 3-Hospital which was notified as a COVID-19 hospital vide order dated 24th May 2020, notified by the Directorate General of Health Services (`DGHS').

4. She developed fever on 10th June, 2020 and unfortunately, passed away on 17th June, 2020, due to COVID-19.

5. Vide the present petition, the Petitioner prays for grant of ex-gratia compensation in terms of the Cabinet Decision No. 2835 dated 13th May, 2020, regarding awarding of compensation to family of employees who die of the disease while on COVID-19 duty. The Cabinet decision is set out below:

"CABINET DECISION NO. 2835 DATED 13.05.2020

Subject: Cabinet Note regarding