Renubala Barman v. The State of Assam and 4 Ors

ORDER

25.11.2024

Heard Mr. HR Ahmed, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner. Also heard Mr. N Goswami, the learned Government Advocate, Assam appearing on behalf of the State respondents and Mr. A Bhattacharjee, the learned standing counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue Department, Government of Assam.

¶2The petitioner herein has approached this Court being aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the respondent authorities in releasing the ex-gratia amount of Rs.2,00,000/- in terms with the Notification dated 15.11.2014.

¶3This Court duly takes note of the materials on record, including the FIR which has been filed. In the said FIR, it is seen that a TATA AC Van bearing Registration No.AS-25-DC-2227 had hit the Motor Cycle in which the son of the petitioner was travelling from the back side and, thereupon, the son of the Page No.# 3/4 petitioner succumbed to his injuries and expired.

¶4This Court takes note of the judgment passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court dated 21.06.2024 in the case of Monisa Khatun @ Monisha Khatun Vs. the State of Assam and 5 Ors. (WP(C)No.2700/2023). In the said judgment, the Coordinate Bench of this Court categorically held that the Notification dated

15.11.2014 cannot be read to be applicable in respect to all accidents, except, hit and run case, where the offending vehicle remain unidentified in the Final Form after the police investigation. Paragraphs 16 and 17 of the said judgment being relevant are reproduced hereinunder: "16) The question is whether petitioner is entitled for ex gratia compensation under notification dated 15.11.2014, when just and fair compensation for accident involving motor vehicle accident can be otherwise claimed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. 17) The notification dated 15.11.2014, envisaging grant of compensation is found to be relatable to provide ex gratia and financial assistance to the persons who were killed/ injured due to extremist violence/ terrorist violence/ acts of miscreant/ communal violence/ ethnic violence/ groupclash/ firing of security forces/ accident, etc., who were kidnapped/ abducted by the extremist/ terrorist/ miscreants and whose dwelling houses are fully burnt/ damaged whether due to acts of extremist/ terrorist/ miscreants or during communal violence/ ethnic violence/ group clash. Therefore, accident must be in connection with acts committed by extremist, terrorist, or miscreants, or accidents arising out of group clash, communal violence, and ethnic violence. The said notification dated

15.11.2014, cannot be read as if all persons suffering from any accident except hit and run case where the offending vehicle remain unidentified in Page No.# 4/4 the Final Form after police investigation, would become entitled to ex gratia where other statutory remedy is available."

¶5Taking into account the above proposition as laid down by the Coordinate Bench and the fact that the vehicle, in question, which had caused the accident has been duly identified, the petitioner herein would not be entitled to the benefit in terms with the Notification dated 15.11.2014. Be that as it may, this Court observes that the instant order shall not preclude the petitioner to avail other statutory remedies as provided under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

¶6Writ petition, accordingly, stands disposed of.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/4 GAHC010015742020 ooooooo 2024:GAU-AS:11633 ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oWP(C)/446/2020o RENUBALAoBARMANo W/OoARABINDAoBARMAN,oVILLoPUBoDAHKAUNIA,oP.O.oDAHKAUNIA,oP.S.o TIHU,oDIST.oNALBARI,oASSAM,oPIN-781346 VERSUSo THEoSTATEoOFoASSAMoANDo4oORS.o REP.oBYoTHEoCOMMISSIONERoANDoSECRETARYoTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAM,o REVENUEo(RoANDoR)oANDoDISASTERoMANAGEMENToDEPTT.oDISPUR,o GHY-6 2:THEoDEPUTYoCOMMISSIONER oNALBARI oASSAM oPIN-781335 3:THEoSUPERINTENDENToOFoPOLICE oNALBARI oASSAM oPIN-781335 4:THEoOFFICERoINoCHARGE oTIHUoPOLICEoSTATION oTIHUoNALBARI oASSAM oPIN-781123 5:THEoCIRCLEoOFFICER oTIHUoREVENUEoCIRCLE oTIHUoNALBARI oASSAM oPIN-78112o Page No.# 2/4 Advocate for the petitioner(s): Mr. HR Ahmed Advocate for the respondent(s): Mr. N Goswami Government Advocate, Assam Mr. A Bhattacharyaa For the Revenue Department, Govt. of Assam B E F O R E HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH