The kin of an anti-Sikh riots victim in Delhi has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for compensation after failed attempts to secure compensation from central and state government departments.
Manjit Singh, a resident of Balongi village near Chandigarh, whose brother was thrown into a burning truck in Delhi, has asked the court to direct the government to issue him an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 7 Lakh as per the rehabilitation package announced by Union government in 2006.
The court has instructed the Union government and the state of Punjab to file a reply on the petition by August 7.
Manjit’s brother, Gurcharan Singh, had survived the burn injuries but died in 2009 after prolonged suffering and remaining bed ridden for 25 years.
Manjit’s family members were attacked in New Delhi during the anti-Sikh riot s after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her two bodyguards. The mob allegedly set the house, shops and vehicles of the family on fire on November 1, 1984.
The petitioner said that his uncle, Santokh Singh, was burnt alive, his father Nath Singh (now dead) received burn injuries and his brother Gurcharan Singh was thrown in a truck already on fire. But, he was saved.
Manjit stated that he had reported the matter to the SHO, police station, Janakpuri, New Delhi. His family members, including Gurcharan Singh, were admitted to the ESI Hospital, New Delhi, on November 4, 1984.
Manjit claims there is overwhelming evidence in his favour, including Gurcharan Singh’s photos with burn injuries on his body, burnt house, shop, truck and scooter, along with the discharge slip of Gurcharan Singh, discharge ticket of his father and the receipt issued by the police post Uttam Nagar, authenticating the death of the petitioner’s uncle, on November 1, 1984.
The family of the petitioner had shifted to Punjab from Delhi after the incident.
The CBI, while probing the riots, had also visited the petitioner’s home at Balongi village near Kharar to record the statement of Gurcharan Singh, who was bed-ridden at the time. The issue was highlighted by the newspapers and Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the highest body managing historical Sikh shrines, undertook the responsibility of his brother’s treatment.
The SGPC initiated his brother’s treatment at Fortis Hospital, but he died on February 17, 2009, due to consequences of burn injuries sustained by him.
The Union government had sanctioned a rehabilitation package after the Nanavati report was submitted. The government had announced on January 16, 2006, that an ex-gratia amount of Rs.3.5 Lakh or more would be paid to the kin of the victims who lost their lives during the riots. They also offered other concessions and grants to people who received injuries or who had to displace due to the communal frenzy.
Manjit stated that he had made a representation to the Union government for compensation on March 30, 2011. He had sought the government to consider his brother dead due to riots since his eventual demise was a consequence of burn injuries suffered by him. The government, on April 7, 2011, told him that the claim would be looked into by the Punjab government and the reimbursement would be made by the Union government.
When the petitioner took up the matter with the Punjab government, the home department asked him to submit some documents. Later, the case for compensation was transferred to deputy commissioner, Mohali, in June last year. But, Manjit hasn’t heard from the government since.
News Source: Times of India
