UNION OF INDIA Vs. SANGEETA WAHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present appeal has been preferred under Clause X of the Letters Patent Act, 1866 assailing the judgement dtd. 18/10/2023 passed by the learned Single Judge thereby allowing the underlying writ petition bearing W.P.(C) 4912/2021 titled 'Sangeeta Wahi vs. Union of India and Ors', in favor of the respondent no.1 herein.

(2.) The facts, shorn of unnecessary details and germane to the issue at hand and collated from the underlying writ petition and the present appeal, are as follows:-

(3.) Mr. Jaswinder Singh, the learned counsel for the appellants submits that the respondent no.1 has no case, which would qualify under the Scheme as announced by the Central Government. Referring to the letter dtd. 30/3/2020, the learned counsel submits that it is clear that the Scheme was to apply to certain categories of Health Workers 'who may have to be in direct contact and care of Covid -19 patients'. According to him, admittedly, the deceased husband of the respondent no.1 was deployed as a Security Guard with the Main Reception of the OPD ward at the appellant no.2/hospital and not with the critical care department of the Covid-19 patients or even the area where such patients were being tested. Mr. Singh vehemently contended that the deceased husband of the respondent no.1 would thus not qualify for any entitlement under the Scheme.