Commission comes to rescue of man who lost wife to COVID-19

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The Tamil Nadu Information Commission has come to the rescue of a man who lost his wife during the COVID-19 pandemic. While his application seeking ex-gratia was rejected since Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain reaction (RT-PCR) test was not done, the Commission has directed the authorities to produce a copy of the medical report explaining the victim’s admission and death.

The petitioner, A. Muthu of Chennai, had written to the Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Collectorate officials seeking details of 425 applications for ex-gratia that were rejected as RT-PCR tests were not done. The applications were submitted by the kin of people who died due to coronavirus infection, he said.

The Public Information Officer and First Appellate Authority rejected his plea filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005, saying the details sought pertained to third party information, and hence could not be disclosed.

The petitioner moved an appeal before the TNIC contending his wife Vasantha was one among the 425 people who died due to the virus.

He said she was admitted to the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital with Covid-19 symptoms on May 18, 2020, and passed away 10 days later.

After hearing both sides, the State Information Commissioner, P. Thamarai Kannan, agreed with the decision of the public authorities that details of the 425 applications could not be shared as they came under the category of third party information.

However, he directed Personal Assistant (General) to the Collector, Chennai, to get a detailed medical report from the Resident Medical Officer of Government Stanley Hospital on the admission of Vasantha, and the treatment provided to her till her death.

He warned that disciplinary action would be taken against the Public Information Officer, and suitable compensation awarded to the petitioner, if the information called for was not provided within the stipulated time.

Mr. Kannan also directed that a compliance report to the order should be filed before the commission on May 29.