RAJANI BHUJAL Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition has been filed by the wife of Raju Bhujal, who met with custodial death. The petitioner had prayed for a C.B.I, enquiry into the death of her husband and payment of compensation.

(2.) Going through the order dated 3.12.96 passed by this Court, it appears that the C.B.I, after an enquiry had filed its report and was further directed to seek sanction from the appropriate authority for prosecution of those prima facie to be involved in the custodial death. A direction has already been made in this behalf and we do not propose to comment any further. The criminal prosecution will take its own course in accordance with law. Any commenll at this stage, on our part is wholly uncalled for.

(3.) The question that still survive for consideration relates to payment of compensation. We have heard Mr. R.P. Sarma, learned counsel for the petitioner and also Mr. A. Sarma, learned Senior Govt. Advocate and Mr. O.K. Das, learned Standing Counsel for C.B.I. It is an admitted position that the wife of the deceased. Mrs. Rajani Bhujal has been provided with a job of Lower Division Assistanl in an office under the Rongai Valley Irrigation Project under the State Government. As has also been stated by the Chief Secretary in his affidavit dated 19.1.97. 4(four) Police Officers as named in para 4 of the affidavit are sought to be prosecuted and two others being proceeded against in disciplinary proceedings, as averred in paragraph 6 of the affidavit. So far as compensation is concerned, an initial offer of Rs. 50,000/- by way of compensation was made which was not acceptable to the petitioner. In our endeavour to arrive: at an amicable settlement, few dates were given to the parties. Ultimately, it was again left to us to decide the question of payment of compensation keeping in view the income of the deceased, which according to the learned Sr. Govt. Advocate was around Rs. 25,000 to 27,000/- per annum.