Karnataka's COVID tally at 8.23 lakh with 3,014 fresh infections and 28 deaths
Bengaluru: Karnataka on Saturday reported 3,014 infections and 28 deaths, taking the COVID-19 tally and cumulative fatalities in the state to 8,23,412 and 11,168 respectively, the health department said.
According to the health bulletin, the total infections comprise 7,57,208 discharges cumulatively including 7,468 on Saturday and 55,017 total active cases including 956 in the ICU.
"With 7,468 recoveries and 3,014 new cases, Karnataka witnessed more recoveries than new cases for the 17th consecutive day," Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar tweeted.
"Let us continue our fight against Covid-19 by wearing a mask, ensuring hand hygiene, and maintaining physical distance," he added.
The state had reported an alarming trend of over 10,500 infections and over 200 fatalities a day for almost a week, barely a month ago.
Bengaluru Urban district contributed 1,621 fresh cases and 17 deaths due to COVID on Saturday.
According to the health bulletin, 173 fresh infections were reported in Hassan, 161 in Mysuru, 122 in Vijayapura, 95 in Dakshina Kannada, 89 in Mandya, 70 in Ballari, 59 in Chitradurga, and 53 in Tumakuru.
Bagalkote, Belagavi, Bengaluru Rural, Chamarajanagara, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Davangere, Dharwad, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Shivamogga, Ramanagara, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Yadgir were also among the districts where new COVID cases were reported.
The department said two deaths each took place in Ballari and Mysuru, and one death each in Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Kolar, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, and Vijayapura.
Most of those who died of coronavirus were above 50 and they had Severe Acute Respiratory Illness or Influenza-Like illness.
There were as many as 1,01,556 tests done today including 81,128 using the RT-PCR and other methods, taking the total done so far to 79.06 lakh, the department added.
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Legal heirs can claim reimbursement if govt employee dies during treatment: Allahabad HC
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Saturday said that if a government employee or pensioner dies during treatment or becomes incapable of making a claim, his legal heirs can also claim reimbursement of medical expenses.
The bench of Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai passed the verdict on the petition of Chandra Choor Singh.
The petitioner's father was a retired deputy registrar. He was treated at private hospitals in Lucknow, where he passed away during treatment. The petitioner applied for reimbursement of medical expenses, but the department rejected the claim, stating that only the "beneficiary" can make a claim under the rules.
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The state government argued that under the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants (Medical Attendance) Rules, 2011, a claim can only be made by a beneficiary, and the petitioner did not fall within this category. It also cited the limit of Rs 5,000 set out in the succession certificate submitted by the petitioner.
The court rejected this argument of the state government, stating that the provisions of Rule 16 of the Rules, 2011, were arbitrary and violated Article 14 of the Constitution. The court held that if a beneficiary dies or becomes incapable of making a claim, his or her legal heirs cannot be deprived of this right.
Applying the principle of "reading down", the Court directed that Rule 16 be interpreted to include legal heirs, especially when there is no other eligible beneficiary.
The court also clarified that if there is no dispute about being an heir, it is not appropriate to reject the claim merely on technical grounds.
Ultimately, the court directed the concerned authority to reconsider the petitioner's claim and take a decision within two months, and if the claim is found to be correct, payment should be ensured within one month.
