Gujarat government releases Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia after widow of Home Guard jawan who died of Covid moves HC
The woman had moved court after her representation seeking the ex-gratia amount under a policy of the state government was not considered.
As the government released the compensation amount, the woman withdrew her petition before HC on July 10.
According to the details available, Mahendra Singh Bhati, a resident of Krishnanagar in Naroda area of Ahmedabad, was deployed by Ahmedabad city police to enforce lockdown at various points during the Covid pandemic. The Naroda police station authorities had also issued him a certificate acknowledging that Bhati discharged duties in night shifts to enforce the lockdown. The last day he discharged duties was on April 6, 2021.
The next day, as his condition deteriorated, Bhati underwent an RTPCR test and was diagnosed with Covid-19. Later, he was transferred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital where he died in the course of his treatment on April 11, 2021.
Subsequently, Bhati's wife Sneha approached the state authorities seeking compensation as per the policy of the Gujarat government mentioned in a government resolution dated March 31, 2020 whereby employees, including Home Guards, if expire of Covid-19 while contracting the infection during discharge of duty then their legal heirs would be entitled to ex gratia benefit of Rs 25 lakhs.
When she did not get the compensation, Sneha made a formal representation on September 20, 2023. However, after not getting any response from the state authorities, she moved a petition before HC through advocate Ratna Vora. Among other things, Sneha had also stated that her husband was the sole bread earner of the family and that she has children pursuing education.
Following the petition, HC had issued notices to the state authorities, ordering them to take an appropriate decision on Sneha's representation.
In April 2025, the Home department of Gujarat government paid the financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to Sneha.
Speaking with The Indian Express, Sneha's counsel Vora said, 'Following our petition, the state government has paid the compensation amount to the widow of the Home Guard. So, we withdrew the petition last week.'
With this, the petition was disposed of by the HC.
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