The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict in a plea concerning the Central Government’s insurance coverage for doctors who lost their lives while serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice R Mahadevan made significant remarks highlighting the moral and constitutional duty of the State to safeguard medical professionals who risked their lives during the crisis.

Justice Narasimha, paying tribute to the selfless service of doctors, observed, “Society will not forgive us if we don’t take care of our doctors.” The Bench was examining the eligibility criteria under the government’s insurance scheme, particularly in cases involving private or non-government doctors who continued treating patients despite not being officially assigned COVID-19 duty.

Addressing Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, Justice Narasimha stressed that the government must ensure insurance companies fulfil valid claims. “If a doctor was engaged in COVID response and died due to infection, the claim should be honoured. Merely because they were not on government rolls doesn’t mean they were idle or profiteering,” he stated.

Clarifying the Court’s approach, Justice Narasimha said the Bench would not delve into individual cases but would frame guiding principles for the implementation of the scheme. “We won’t examine personal claims; we will define the principles,” he noted, adding that the criteria must include proof that the deceased doctor was actively providing medical services and that death was caused by COVID-19.

He elaborated, “There must be credible proof that the doctor kept their clinic or hospital open for patients and subsequently succumbed to COVID-19. Once these conditions are met, it is immaterial whether the services were for COVID patients alone.”

The Court also directed the Centre to share details of other similar or parallel benefit schemes apart from the Pradhan Mantri Insurance Scheme. “Provide us the data and information about all comparable schemes. We will set out the principle, and on that basis, the insurance companies shall process claims,” Justice Narasimha instructed.

Concluding the proceedings, Justice Narasimha remarked, “The matter will be disposed of in accordance with our judgment.”