She claimed that there had been a delay in opening the portal and almost 50 people already applied for it before the portal could start. “Let the state not delay payment for those who applied physically before the portal was formed,” Rao said.

Additional government pleader Poornima Kantharia informed the bench that the state had received a total of 114 applications physically or by post. 54 such applicants had been contacted by officials for assistance. 14 such applicants could not be tracked back hence the state was unable to assist them with the online method of applying.

The bench asked Kantharia to make a statement that the state government will not reject applications merely because someone had applied physically.

However, Kantharia replied that the online portal had been formulated as per order of the Supreme Court in order to benefit the applicants. She stated that online portals were easier for the applicants, and even easier for the state to streamline.

After hearing the submissions briefly, the bench asked all respondents to file their responses to the plea and directed that applications not be kept pending till they are filed in online format.

The bench directed that “applications which have not been filed online may also be processed by the state government in the same manner as online applications for extending assistance to the next of kin of victims of SARS- CoV-2”.

The bench also added in their order that “earnest endeavour ought to be made to ensure that the requisite assistance reaches the applicants as early as possible, however, on compliance with all other formalities by them. No application, filed physically, may be kept aside on the ground that it has not been filed online".

(With inputs from agencies)