The Supreme Court Friday expressed displeasure over delay in framing guidelines for issuance of death certificates to the families of those who died of COVID-19 and directed the Centre to file a compliance report by September 11. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, assured the court that everything is under consideration. Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, who appeared for some of the applicants, said extended time for the first direction passed on June 30 is getting over on September 8.

We passed the order a long time back. We have already extended the time once. By the time you frame the guidelines, the third phase will also be over”, a bench comprising Justices M R Shah and Aniruddha Bose observed. Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who has filed the petition, submitted that under the pretext of consideration things should not be delayed as the top court has already granted four-week extension to the Centre on August 16 to frame guidelines for ex-gratia compensation and now it is seeking more time.