BHAJAN KAUR Vs. DELHI ADMINISTRATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a writ petition whereby the petitioner, awidow of a riot victim, seeks enhancement of the amount of compensation of Rs.20,000.00 awarded to her on account of the death of her husband.

(2.) Shri Narain Singh, petitioner's husband, lost his life on November 1, 1984, in the riots which took place after the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi. On the fateful day he was travelling by Bombay-Ferozepur Janta Express Train. According to the FIR No. 355 dated November 1, 1984, lodged at the Police Station New Delhi Railway Station around 12.30 Noon, the train slopped at Tughlakabad Railway Station where 300-350 villagers surrounded it. They pulled out 25/26 Sikh passengers from the train and killed them. The persons killed included Narain Singh son of Jawahar Singh, resident of Village Bhalajala, Tehsil Taran Taran, District Amritsar, Punjab (for particulars see death certificate at page 6 of the writ record).

(3.) On October 20, 1986, after about two years of the incident, the Delhi Administration awoke to the need to compensate the petitioner for her loss and made an ex gratia payment of Rs.20,000.00 to her by means of a cheque, a copy whereof is at page 11 of the writ record. The grievance of the petitioner is that the amount paid to her is too meagre and the same should be enhanced to Rs.2 lakhs. The petitioner in support of her plea about the inadequacy of the compensation has averred that heirs of the persons killed by militants or the police have been paid Rs.2 lakhs each as compensation. She also cites the example of victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.