#ex-gratia payment

Bombay High Court rules that families of government employees who died due to COVID-19 while performing public-facing duties are entitled to Rs. 50 lakh ex-gratia compensation, regardless of uncommunicated orders. The Court also directed reconsideration of compassionate appointments, reinforcing that procedural lapses cannot deny statutory benefits.

The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that a delay in claiming ex-gratia payment under compassionate appointment schemes is not fatal if the applicant diligently pursued a compassionate appointment in good faith. This sets a critical precedent for families of deceased employees who, despite procedural setbacks in appointment claims, remain entitled to financial relief under the scheme’s humanitarian intent.

Chhattisgarh High Court rules that drowning in any water body, including agricultural fields, falls under the Revenue Book Circular's natural calamity coverage. Medical evidence of drowning overrides administrative assumptions about water depth, entitling dependents to Rs. 4,00,000 ex gratia payment.

Punjab & Haryana HC rules that concealment of a pre-existing illness (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) at policy inception vitiates a life insurance contract under the principle of utmost good faith. Acceptance of an ex gratia payment marked as 'full and final settlement' bars subsequent claims, reinforcing estoppel by conduct in insurance disputes.

Kerala High Court holds that long-serving contractual teachers cannot be denied regularization on procedural technicalities; government must decide representation fairly within three months.