The Supreme Court of India has issued a fixed message to the Central Government, highlighting that doctors died Battling during COVID-19 must receive proper compensation and recognition.
During a hearing on October 28, 2025, a bench of Justices P. S. Narasimha and R. Mahadevan said the country has a ethical responsibility to support the families of frontline doctors. The Court stated, “Society will not forgive us if we don’t take care of our doctors and don’t stand for them.”
Why the Case Came Up
Families of doctors who died during the pandemic filed a petition, stating that many were denied compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) insurance scheme because they worked in private clinics or non-designated COVID hospitals.
What the Supreme Court Ordered
- The Union Government must submit data on:
- Total number of health-worker deaths during COVID-19
- Compensation/insurance schemes available across states and at the Centre
- The Court will frame guiding principles so insurance companies cannot reject valid claims on technical grounds.
- The bench rejected the view that private-clinic doctors were “profit-making” and therefore ineligible.
Impact
The ruling is expected to:
- Allow families of deceased doctors—government or private—to claim compensation
- Reduce bureaucratic delays in settling claims
- Bring uniformity in how health-worker deaths are handled nationwide
Bottom Line
India’s highest court made it clear:
Those who risked their lives to protect the nation during COVID-19 must not be forgotten.