KUSUM LATA YADAV Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This batch of writ petitions involving common question of facts and law were heard together and are being decided by a common judgment.

(2.) The petitioners have questioned the legality of Clause 12 of the Government Order dtd. 1/6/2021, which was issued in modification of the earlier Government Orders dtd. 6/4/2021 and 4/5/2021. By means of the impugned government order, the State of Uttar Pradesh raised the amount of ex-gratia payment to the dependants of a deceased employee dying on election duty due to COVID-19 from Rs.15.00 lacs to Rs.30.00 lacs subject to the fulfilment of conditions in Clause-12.

(3.) In usual course, the National Authority by virtue of Sec. 12 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 is empowered to recommend guidelines for the minimum standards of relief which is to be provided to persons affected by disaster. Sec. 12 of the Act of 2005 for ready reference is extracted hereunder:-