Chhattisgarh High Court: In a suo motu public interest litigation regarding distribution of compensation amount to victim/parents of the victim under the Yon Utpidan/Anya Apradhon Se Pidit Mahilaon/Uttarjiviyon Ke Liye Kshatipurti Yojna, 2018 (‘the Scheme’), the Division Bench of Ramesh Sinha, CJ and Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J., after the perusal of the report submitted by Member Secretary, Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, noted that as in February 2024, in 753 cases, a total of Rs. 26,41,00,200 was pending for its payment. The report also stated that because of lack of allotment of fund, the payment could not be made to the victims/family members of the victim till date. Thus, the Court directed Advocate General to seek necessary information as to why the compensation had not been paid to the victims/parents of the victim till date and submit his response before the next date.
The Court observed that on 03-04-2024, the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority (‘DLSA’), Bilaspur was directed to inform the Court as to whether the compensation amount was disbursed to the victim’s mother or not. Further, in response, the Secretary, DLSA, Bilaspur vide letter dated 04-04-2024, informed the Registrar (Judicial) of this Court that as an interim measure, Rs. 2,50,000 had been disbursed to the victim’s mother through cheque on 03-04-2024 under the Scheme. He had also enclosed a photocopy of the cheque with his letter.
The Court opined that it had been brought to the Court’s notice that there were several other victims who were entitled to get compensation under the Scheme, but they had not yet been paid any amount towards compensation. Thus, the Court directed Registrar General of the present Court to seek information regarding this fact from the Member Secretary, Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, during course of the day and place the same on record for consideration of this Court. Accordingly, information was furnished by the Member Secretary, Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, and was placed before the present Court.
The Court after perusal of the report noted that as in February 2024, in 753 cases, a total of Rs. 26,41,00,200 was pending for its payment. The report also stated that because of lack of allotment of fund, the payment could not be made to the victims/family members of the victim till date. Thus, the Court directed Advocate General to seek necessary instructions as to why the compensation had not been paid to the victims/parents of the victim till date and submit his response before the next date.
The matter would next be listed on 25-04-2024.
[In the matter of Suo motu public interest litigation v. State of Chhattisgarh, WPPIL No. 23 of 2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Respondents: Y.S. Thakur, Advocate
