UNION OF INDIA AND ANR vs SANGEETA WAHI & ORS

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Judgment reserved on: 11.12.2024 Judgment delivered on: 16.01.2025 + LPA 129/2024, CM APPL. 9467/2024 UNION OF INDIA & ANR ....Appellants versus SANGEETA WAHI & ORS ....Respondents Advocates who appeared in this case: For the Petitioner : Mr. Jaswinder Singh, Adv. For the Respondent : Ms. Anu Mehta, Advocates for R1. Ms. Hetu Arora Sethi, ASC, GNCTD Mr. J.P.N. Shahi, Advocate for R-4. CORAM: HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA JUDGMENT TUSHAR RAO GEDELA, J. 1. Present appeal has been preferred under Clause X of the Letters Patent Act, 1866 assailing the judgement dated 18.10.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge thereby allowing the underlying writ petition bearing W.P.(C) 4912/2021 titled ‘Sangeeta Wahi vs. Union of India & Ors’, in favor of the respondent no.1 herein. Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:MADHU SARDANA LPA 129/2024 Signing Date:16.01.2025 19:47:25 Page 1 of 19 2. The facts, shorn of unnecessary details and germane to the issue at hand and collated from the underlying writ petition and the present appeal, are as follows:- a) The appellant through its Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India announced ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers fighting COVID-19’ (hereinafter the Scheme) on 30.03.2020. b) The respondent herein is a widow of a Security Guard deployed in Safdarjung Hospital during Covid-19 pandemic. The appellant no.2/Hospital, issued a permit card to the husband who was deployed by the government to perform essential services during pandemic curfew. The respondent no.1 claims that on 03.06.2020 while on duty at the Main reception of the Out Patient Depart