Summary: Ramesh Balu Patil from Kolhapur wins a court case for insurance benefits after his wife, a COVID-19 frontline worker, passed away. The court ruled in favor of his claim despite technicalities.
Ramesh Balu Patil, living in Shendri, Gadhinglaj, Kolhapur, filed a formal complaint against the State of Maharashtra. His wife, Sarita Ramesh Patil, was a data entry operator at a Primary Healthcare Center in Kadgaon. She caught COVID-19 while on duty and passed away on July 4, 2021.
The Government of Maharashtra had an insurance plan for state employees working on COVID-19 duties. This plan provided a payout of ₹50 lakhs for those who died due to COVID-19 while on duty. However, the plan was only valid until June 30, 2021.
The government turned down Ramesh's claim because Sarita died after the plan's deadline. However, Ramesh argued that she caught the virus before the deadline while doing her job.
On December 23, 2025, Judges M. S. Karnik and Ajit B. Kadethankar decided in favor of Ramesh. The court stated:
"It is not the date of death, but the date of contracting COVID-19 which is material for grant of insurance coverage."
The court emphasized that the type of employment should not affect the benefits, and all employees, including those on temporary contracts, should be covered.
The court ordered the government to provide the insurance benefits to Ramesh within eight weeks. This decision is significant as it acknowledges the sacrifices of all COVID-19 workers, regardless of their employment status.
The court ruled that Ramesh should receive the insurance benefits because his wife contracted COVID-19 while on duty before the insurance plan expired. This decision ensures that families of frontline workers are supported and sets an example for future cases.
