S.S.AHLUWALIA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE matter relates to payment of compensation to the riot -victims who have been killed in 1984 because of assassination of late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.

(2.) TODAY I will take the matter of one Baldev Singh who filed a writ petition being C.W.J.C. No. 1696 of 1999 (R) for payment of compensation. The case of Mr. Baldev Singh is that after the assassination of the then Prime Minister, riot took place and the wife of the petitioner, namely, Surinder Kaur alongwith minor son and daughter, namely, Baljeet Singh and Kulvinder Kaur, were brutally killed. The petitioners father -in -law, mother -in -law and brother -in -law were also killed by the unruly mob. This Court by order dated 27.9.2001 issued notices to the respondents including the Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro Steel City, Bokaro, for filing counter affidavit. But no counter affidavit has been filed in that case till date. However, in the present case ie. W.P. (C) No. 3784 of 2005, a counter affidavit has been filed by the Deputy Commissioner, Lohardaga wherein it is stated that one Baldeo Singh, son of Chanchal Singh, filed an application stating that in the year 1984, his wife, daughter, son, mother -in -law, father - in -law and brother -in -law were killed at Bokaro. He also said that his truck being B.H.V. 3785 was burnt by the rioters in Ratu Road, Ranchi and for that, F.I.R. has been lodged being Sukhdeo Nagar Police Station Case No. 709 of 1984. It is further stated in the counter affidavit that Additional Collector, Ranchi informed the Deputy Commissioner that compensation for this truck has been paid to Shri Baldeo Singh by the concerned Insurance company. So far payment of compensation in respect of members of the family is concerned, it was brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro through various letters and the Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro in his turn, also informed the Special Secretary, Home, Special Department, Ranchi. The Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro in his counter affidavit, annexed a chart giving the name of the persons to whom compensation has been paid, but the name of Baldev Singh son of Chanchal Singh, is not included in that chart.

(3.) IT is, therefore, clear that in 1984s riot, the wife, minor son and minor daughter of Shri Baldeo Singh, son of late Chanchal Singh, have been killed. Taking into consideration of all those facts, I direct the respondents -Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro to pay a consolidated sum of Rs. Ten lacs to Shri Baldeo Singh, if he has not been paid any amount for the killings, within two weeks from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order.