N KARUPPAYAL Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner has come to this Court seeking for issuance of writ of mandamus directing the Respondents to pay compensation of Rs. 5,00,000/-to the Petitioner for the death of her son S. Mani due to the police firing in front of Manjoor Police Station on 16.10.1990.

(2.) The learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is an agricultural labour. While so, her eldest son by name S. Mani was working as a lorry driver. He was getting a monthly salary of Rs. 2,500/-and with that income, her family was leading their livelihood. Unfortunately, on 16.10.1990, there was some dispute in between one Thomson and the then Sub Inspector of Police Mr. Ravichandran, Manjoor Police Station. In that connection, the said Thomson was taken to the Police Station. Immediately after knowing the police enquiry, one Jayanthi, wife of Thomson had also reported the matter to the villagers, with the result the entire villagers came to the Police Station and there was commotion in front of Police Station and when the situation was not under control, the Sub Inspector of Police opened fire at the crowd, in which, two persons were died including the Petitioner's son S. Mani and five persons got injured.

(3.) Subsequently, a writ petition was filed praying for relief of direction directing the first Respondent to sanction a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/-from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the family of the victim. Though after some time, the first Respondent sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/-for each of the deceased family from the Chief Minister's public relief fund, after several negotiations, the Government came forward to give alternative employment to one of the Petitioner's son. The Petitioner's youngest son was also finally accommodated as office Assistant on compassionate appointment by the District Collector, Nilgiris.