Back
Electricity Staff Serving Hospitals Are 'COVID Warriors' Entitled to ₹50 Lakh :
The has delivered a significant ruling, asserting that employees engaged in essential services—specifically those maintaining power supply to hospitals and oxygen plants—qualify as "COVID Warriors." This decision comes as a relief to the family of the late Sunder Lal, an employee of , who passed away after contracting COVID-19 while performing his duties.
The Backdrop: A Claim Denied
The petitioner, Smt. Pushpa Devi, widow of the deceased, challenged the rejection of her claim for ₹50 lakh in
compensation. The state-constituted committee had denied the relief on the grounds that her husband’s work did not strictly fall under the definition of
"COVID containment, treatment, and protection."
The state argued that his duties were not directly linked to the clinical treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Arguments: A Widened Perspective Counsel for the petitioner argued that her husband was a frontline worker who ensured that hospitals and oxygen plants remained energized, a task critical to the survival of patients battling the virus. The court sided with this view, rejecting the state’s "myopic interpretation" of the Government Order.
The court emphasized that the role of essential service workers—including those in the electricity, water, and police departments—was instrumental in helping the state manage the pandemic. By enabling hospitals to function and patients to remain in confinement, these employees significantly contributed to the COVID-19 response.
Legal Reasoning and Precedents Drawing on previous judgments in and , the Division Bench of Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary held that frontline duties must be viewed through a pragmatic lens.
Refusing to the matter for further administrative review, the Court cited recent guidance. Given that the deceased had passed away in and the legal struggle had lasted over five years, the Court opted for immediate justice.
"A myopic interpretation cannot be given to COVID-Duty so as to confine only to those persons, who were specially assigned to discharge their duties in treatment of people physically in hospitals."
Key Observations The Court underscored that the spirit of should lead to effective remedies:
-
On the status of power workers:
"Since the deceased was regularly engaged in ensuring an uninterrupted supply of electricity to hospitals and oxygen plants... he is entitled to be treated as a COVID Warrior."
-
On the failure of administrative process:
"When a claim of a right is legal and justified, relief must follow. The are not intended for ."
- On essential services: The bench noted that electricity supply was the backbone of maintaining lockdowns and oxygen support, both vital to COVID-management protocols.
The Decision: A Call for Timely Justice The High Court the rejection order and directed the state authorities to disburse the ₹50 lakh compensation to Smt. Pushpa Devi within eight weeks. By moving beyond a narrow interpretation of "COVID-Duty," the Court has reinforced the rights of families of essential service workers, ensuring that those who supported the country during its darkest hour receive the recognition and financial security they deserve.
