Patna, Advocate Suman Kumari, Legal Correspondent, 10th October 2026: In a significant ruling highlighting the importance of human compassion in the administration of welfare schemes, the Patna High Court has come to the aid of eight families who lost their loved ones during the devastating second wave of COVID-19 in 2021. Justice Alok Kumar, sitting singly, rejected the State Government’s technical argument that compensation could be denied merely because COVID-19 tests had been conducted at a laboratory that was not formally notified by the government.
The court’s approach underscores a vital principle: technical formalities should not become an obstacle to justice, particularly when citizens seek relief under a public welfare scheme.
Justice Alok Kumar Takes a Firm Stand Against Technical Formalities
The case concerns eight petitioners, including Anish Singh, from the Mokama and Maranchi areas of Patna district. Their family members died during April and May 2021, at the height of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seeking financial assistance under the Bihar COVID Assistance Scheme, 2022, the petitioners claimed compensation of ₹4 lakh for each deceased family member.
However, the Civil Surgeon and the state-level committee rejected their claims on the ground that the COVID-19 tests had been conducted at a laboratory in Mokama that had not been formally notified by the government.
The petitioners challenged the rejection before the Patna High Court.
Court Questions the State’s Approach During a Public Health Crisis
During the hearing, the court took into account the extraordinary circumstances prevailing during the pandemic. It observed that, in the midst of such a devastating health crisis, patients and their families could not reasonably be expected to search government websites for lists of authorised laboratories and travel long distances to obtain testing.
An important aspect of the case was that the deaths of the individuals concerned were recorded in the State Health Society’s records, and the cause of death was not in dispute.
Justice Alok Kumar declined to accept the government’s technical objection as a sufficient ground for denying the families access to the relief they had sought.
“The State Is Not a Silent Spectator, but a Guardian of Citizens’ Welfare”
The court’s observations on the State’s responsibility form a significant part of the ruling. It emphasised that the State cannot remain a silent spectator but must act as a guardian of the welfare of its citizens.
The approach reflects the broader purpose of welfare schemes: to provide assistance to eligible beneficiaries, particularly during times of exceptional hardship, rather than deny relief on the basis of procedural technicalities.
For families already burdened by the loss of their loved ones, the court’s intervention offers renewed hope that their claims will receive fair and timely consideration.
Four Weeks to Reconsider Claims, Further Four Weeks for Payment
The Patna High Court directed the concerned authorities to reconsider the claims of all eight petitioners within four weeks of receiving a copy of the order.
The court further directed that, once eligibility is established, payment of ₹4 lakh to each eligible family under the Bihar COVID-19 Assistance Scheme, 2022, must be ensured within the following four weeks.
The directions establish a clear timeline for administrative reconsideration and the subsequent payment of compensation to eligible claimants.
A Powerful Reminder That Justice Must Remain Humane
Justice Alok Kumar’s ruling highlights the judiciary’s important role in ensuring that administrative procedures do not defeat the purpose of public welfare measures.
For families who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, the compensation represents more than financial assistance. It also concerns the State’s responsibility towards citizens who suffered during an unprecedented public health emergency.
The message from the Patna High Court is clear: technical objections must not be allowed to overshadow human suffering and the objectives of welfare legislation.
Through this ruling, Justice Alok Kumar has brought the concerns of bereaved families to the forefront and reinforced the principle that the administration must approach welfare claims with fairness, reasonableness and compassion.
