Covid-19 insurance for police: HC dismisses PIL

KOCHI: The Kerala high court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking risk allowance and insurance cover for policemen engaged in fighting Covid-19.

A division bench comprising chief justice S Manikumar and justice Shaji P Chaly considered a PIL (WP-C No. 9744/2020) filed by MR Manoj Kumar, secretary of Rajeswari Foundation based at Thiruvananthapuram.

Declining to entertain the PIL, the court said it cannot interfere with the policy decision of the state government nor issued a directive on such a matter.

It was demanded in the PIL that policemen should be given special risk allowance as well as insurance cover. They should also be provided with personal protection equipment, the PIL had said while pointing out that policemen are dealing directly with the public. Such steps are necessary to uphold the confidence of the police force and to ensure the well-being of the family members of the policemen, the plea had stated.

State government had submitted before the court that it was the central government that granted the insurance scheme mentioned in the PIL to healthcare workers. Central government told the court that the insurance scheme was implemented as healthcare workers directly deal with COVID-19 patients and the chances of contracting the disease is high.

After considering the submissions of the governments, the court said it cannot direct the government to implement a particular policy and dismissed the PIL.

Source: The Times of India