High Court Orders Rs 50 Lakh Compensation for MSRTC Employee's Widow

The Bombay High Court has pronounced a significant judgment in favor of Sunita Bapu Jagtap, the widow of a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employee who succumbed to Covid-19 in April 2021.

Justices Makarand Karnik and Shriram Modak directed MSRTC to pay Rs 50 lakh in compensation, stating that the deceased was likely exposed to the virus while performing his work duties, despite not being directly assigned essential services during the pandemic.

The bench criticized the MSRTC for taking a narrow view and highlighted the risks faced by employees who continued working amid a nationwide standstill. The court's decision reinforces the responsibility of corporations to protect and compensate employees who risk their lives for essential services.