Sarup Singh v. Union of India and Ors

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToAToo CHANDIGARHo o o JudgmentoReservedoon:o17.10.2023o JudgmentoPronouncedoon:o07.11.2023o o 212o(14oCASES)o o o o o o ooCWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o SARUPoSINGHoo ...oPetitionero VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentsoo CWP-17923-2017oo SATPALoo ...oPetitionero VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentso CWP-17920-2017oo ISHWRIoDEVIoo ...oPetitionero VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentso CWP-38118-2018oo BALWANToSINGHoo ...oPetitionero VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentsoo CWP-29385-2017o SAWANoSINGHoANDoOTHERSoo ...oPetitionerso VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentso CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-2-o 2023:PHHC:143786o CWP-29755-2017o GUDDIoDEVIoANDoOTHERSoo ...oPetitionerso VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentso CWP-17909-2017oo CWP-17911-2017o CWP-17912-2017o CWP-17913-2017o CWP-17915-2017o CWP-17916-2017o CWP-17917-2017o &oCWP-17918-2017o o AMARJEEToSINGHoo ...oPetitionero VERSUSo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o ...oRespondentso o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJ.o o Present:o Mr.oAjayoJain,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s).o o o Mr.oSatyaoPaloJain,oAddl.oSolicitoroGeneraloofoIndiaowitho o Mr.oSuniloKumaroSharma,oSr.oPaneloCounseloandoo o Ms.oGehnaoVaishnavi,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.1.o o o Mr.oPankajoMulwani,oDAG,oHaryanao o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4.o ****o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(ORAL)o o o Aobatchoofo14opetitionsoisobeingodecidedobyoaocommonojudgmentoaso theoissueoinvolvedohereinoisoidenticaloandobetweenotheosimilarlyosituatedoparties.o Forotheofacilitiesooforeference,ofactsoareoextractedofromoCWP-17922oofo2017o titledoaso'SarupoSinghoVersusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers'.oo o o TheopetitionerohasoapproachedothisoCourtoforoseekingomodification/o settingo asideo ofo theo reporto submittedo byo Justiceo T.P.o Garg,o Commissiono ofo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-3-o 2023:PHHC:143786o Enquiryo(hereinafterotoobeoreferredotooaso'theoCommission')ointootheoincidentoofo violenceothatotookoplaceoatoVillageoHaudoChillaroinotheothenoDistrictoRewari,o pertainingo too theo 1984o anti-Sikho riotso claimingo thato theo compensationo recommendedobyotheoabovesaidoCommissionoisoinadequate.oAofurtheroprayerohaso alsoobeenomadeoforoseekingoenhancementoofotheocompensation.oo o o TheopetitionerohasoapproachedothisoCourtoaverringothatoconsequento uponotheoassassinationoofotheoformeroPrimeoMinisteroSmt.oIndiraoGandhioono

31.10.1984,o violenceo eruptedo ato Villageo Haudo Chillaro ino theo theno Districto Rewari.oOno02.11.1984,othereowasosomeorumouroaboutotheomiscreantsocomingotoo attackovillageoHaudoChillar.oTheothenoSarpanchoDhanpatoSinghowasoapprisedo aboutotheopossibleoapprehensionoandoitowasoassuredothatonooharmowillocomeotheiro way.oHowever,oaotruckoloadedoofomiscreantsocameotootheovillageoandosetoablazeo theoresidentialohousesoandootheropropertiesoofothreeofamiliesoofotheovillage.oTheyo targettedotheoHavelioofoKartaroSinghoandoBalwantoSingh;oandokilledoasomanyoaso 17opersonsoincludingowomenoandochildrenoandotookoawayotheohouseholdogoods,o ornaments,o casho ando foodo grainso etc.o Ano FIRo No.91o datedo 03.11.1984o waso registeredoinothisoregardoatoPoliceoStationoJatusana,oDistrictoMahendergarhoundero Sections,o 148,o 149,o 302o ando 436o reado witho Sectiono 34o ofo theo IPC,o buto noo investigationo waso conductedo intoo theo same.o Theo relevanto extracto ofo theo abovesaidoFIRoreadsothus:-o "Sd-Ramo Kumaro designationo HC/219o Theo contentso ofo FIRo areo mentionedohereobelow:-oI,oamoSarpanchoofovillageoChillar.oThereoiso oneosmalloderaonearoourovillage,owhichoisocalledoasoHaujipur.oTheo panchayatoofobothotheovillagesoisosame.oInovillageoHaujipurothereo areo6/7ohousesoofoSikhs.oThatoyesterday,oi.e.oono02.11.1984oatoabouto CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-4-o 2023:PHHC:143786o

11.30oAM,oaotruckofromotheosideoofoHailyoMandi,oPataudioDistricto GurgaonofulloofopersonsocameoinoourovillageoChillar.oAtothatotime,oIo alongowithoSubedaroShrioDeepoChandosonoofoMangaloSinghoAhir,o Lambardaro Nanako Chando sono ofo Sultano Ahir,o Lambardaro ando otheroresidentsoofotheovillageoandoRattanoSinghosonoofoKrishanoRamo Jat,oresidentoofoHagora,oSunderoLalosonoofoSohanoLaloJat,oresidento ofoNurpurowereopresent.oTheopersonsowhoohadocomeoinotheotrucko wereo announcingo thato theyo willo finisho allo theo Sardar'so livingo ino Dhanio(Haujipur)obecauseotheoSardar'sohadokilledotheiropopularo leadero Primeo Ministero Smt.o Indirao Gandhi.o Weo madeo themo understandoandosentothemoback.oButoono03.11.1984oinotheoevening,o 3o truckso fullo ofo personso cameo fromo theo sideo ofo Hailyo Mandi,o Pataudi,oreachedovillageoHaujipuroandostartedoputtingoeverythingo onofire.oWhoosooeverocameooutoofotheovillageowasokilled.oAtothatotimeo LambardaroNanakoChand,oKanhiyaoLaloPanchoresidentoofoChillar,o RattanoSinghoresidentoofoChamora,oSunderoLaloresidentoofoNurpuro cameothereoandotriedotoomakeothemounderstandobutotheyodidonoto hearousoandostartedosayingothato"theoSikhsoareotraitors,oweowillo finishothemoandoifoyouointerfere,oconsequencesowouldonotobeogood"o Thoseo personso wereo 400/500o ino number.o Theo shedso ando houseso wereoputoonofireobyothemoandostartedopeltingostones.oDueotootheofireo someopersonsowereoburntoalive.oWeocannotoidentifyotheopersonsowhoo wereoburnto alive.o Theo numberoofopersonso whoo wereoburntoaliveo wouldobeoabouto20.oWeowantedotooreportotheomatterobyogoingotootheo PoliceoStationobutoweowereostoppedobyothoseopersonsofromogoingotoo theoPoliceoStation.oMyselfoandoSubedaroDeepoChandohaveocomeotoo theo Policeo Stationo foro lodgingo theo report.o Io haveo heardo myo statement,oitoisocorrect.oActionobeotakenobyogoingotootheospot.oSd/-o DhanpatoSingh.oAttestedoSd/-oRamoKumar,oSHO.oPoliceoStation,o Jatusana."o o o Thereowereoaototalonumberoofo32ocasualtiesoinotheosaidoincident.oTheo publico outcryo continuedo too resonateo througho timeso ando eventuallyo theo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-5-o 2023:PHHC:143786o Governmentonotifiedo"T.P.oGargoCommission"otooinquireointootheosaidoincident.o TheotermsoofotheoinquiryotoobeoheldobyotheoCommissionoareoextractedoasounder:-o

(i)k too theo incidentso ofo violenceo whicho targettedo memberso ofo theo Sikho communityolivingoinovillageoHaudoChillaroinoNovembero1984.o

(ii)k theo sequenceo ofo theo eventso leadingo too ando allo factso relatingo too sucho violenceoincludingofactsorelatingotoonumberoofovictimsowhoodiedoorowereo seriouslyoinjuredodueotootheoviolenceoandodamageotooproperty.o

(iii)k too recommendo measures,o whicho mayo beo adoptedo too meeto theo endso ofo justiceoconnectedowithotheoincidentsounderoinquiry;oando

(iv)k tooconsiderosuchomattersoasomayobeofoundorelevantoinotheocourseoofotheo inquiry.o o o Pursuantothereto,otheoCommissionoconductedotheoinquiryointootheo matteroandorecordedotheostatementsoofotheowitnessesoandosubmittedoitsoreportoono

16.03.2015otootheoGovernmentoofoHaryana.oAsoperotheoreport,o32opersonsowereo killedowhileo06opersonsohadosustainedoinjuries.oAototaloofo36opetitionsohadobeeno preferredobeforeotheosaidoCommissionoinorespectoofolossoofolifeoandoproperty.oIto waso recommendedo byo theo Commissiono thato theo Stateo Government/Uniono Territorieso shouldo payo uniformo compensation.o Theo operativeo parto ofo theo recommendationsowithoregardotootheocompensationomadeobyotheoCommissionoiso asounder:o "125oo(a)oo Inoviewoofotheodetailedodiscussionoinoparaso60otoo112o (pageso144otoo187)oofothisoreport,oaosumoofoRs.20.00olakhsooveroando aboveotheoamountoalreadyopaidohasobeenorecommendedotootheopaido tootheoclaimantsoquaoeachoofo31odeathsodetailedoatoserialoNo.1otoo31o inotheoTableogivenoinoparao72oonopageso146otoo148oofothisoreporto CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-6-o 2023:PHHC:143786o WhileoaosumoofoRso25.00olakhsoshouldobeopaidotootheowidowoofotheo loneoarmyomanoInderjitoSinghoshownoatoserialoNoo32oinotheotableo givenoinoparao72oonopageo148oofothisoreportoThisoisobecauseoasopero evidenceo ono recordo sheo haso noto beeno paido anyo amounto ofo compensationowhatsoeverotillodateoonoanyoearlierooccasionobyotheo Government.o

(b)oo Asoregardso36oclaimsoquaolossoofopropertyotheodescriptionoofo whicho haveo beeno giveno ino paraso 85-86o (pageso 157-158)o ofo thiso reportoaodetailedodiscussionohasobeenomadeoanoparaso87otoo98oao (pageso 158o too 170)o ofo thiso report.o Accordinglyo ando aso pero theo observationsomadeotherein,otheoCommissionorecommendsothatoano amountoofoRs.o5.00olakhsomoreoquaotheolossoofopropertyobeopaido overoandoaboveotheoamountoofocompensationoalreadyopaidobyotheo Governmentotooeachoofo36opetitionersonamedoinoparaso85-86o(pageso 157-158)oofothisoreport.o

(c)oo Besidesoasoperodiscussionsoinoparaso95-o96o(pageso166otoo 169)o ofo thiso reporto ino respecto ofo theo damageo causedo too theo GurudwaraoandotheoJanjoGharoinotheovillage,oasoperodiscussionso recordedoinopara-98o(b)opageo111oofothisoreport,otheoCommissiono recommendso thato ano amounto ofo Rs.o 5.00o lakhso eacho foro theo Gurudwarao ando theo Janjo Gharo beo alsoo donatedo too anyo sucho religiousostructuresoinocaneoraisedoatoaoplaceowhereotheomajorityoofo theosurvivorsoofovillageoHaudohaveonowosettled.oThisocanowellobeo inquiredointoobyotheoauthoritiesoconcernedoandoonlyoafterosatisfyingo themselveso abouto theo rehabilitationo ofo theo majorityo ofo sucho survivorsoandotheoplace,oappropriateodecisionomayobeotakenobyotheo authoritiesoinothisoregard.o

(d)oo Further,oasoperodiscussionoinoparaso99otoo112o(pageso172otoo 187)oofothisoreportoinorespectotootheoinjuriesocausedotooSmt.oMalano BaiothroughoSarupoSingho(PetitionoNoo35-HCC),oSmt.oMahendero Kauro(PetitionoNo.o79-HCC),oSunderoSingho(PetitionoNoo80-HCC)o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-7-o 2023:PHHC:143786o SawanoSingho(PetitionoNoo7-HCC,oSmt.oBesaroBaio(PetitionoNo.ooo 11-HCC)o ando Satpalo (disabledo son)o througho hiso mothero Smt.o Ramesho Kumario (Petitiono No.o 37-HCC),o theo Commissiono recommendsothatoanoamountoofoRs.o1.00olakhsobeopaidotooeachoofo theo5opetitioners,onamely,oShrioSarupoSinghoonoaccountoofoinjurieso toohisowifeoSmt.oMalanoBai,oSmt.oMahenderoKaur,oSunderoSingh,o Sawano Singho ando Smt.o Besaro Baio namedo ino parao 99o above.o However,oasoperoaboveodiscussions,otheoCommissionorecommendso thato ano amounto ofo Rs.50.00o lakhso beo paido aso compensationo too SatpalopetitionerothroughohisomotheroRameshoKumario(namedoino parao99oabove)oasohisoguardianoinotheomannerodetailedoinoparao112o ofothisoreportoabove.o o o Theo abovesaido recommendationso wereo acceptedo byo theo Governmento ando compensationo aso suggestedo waso undisputedlyo disbursed.oo AggrievedoofotheocompensationorecommendedobyotheoCommission,otheopresento petitionohasobeenofiledoforoseekingoenhancementoofotheocompensationosoothatotheo sameo iso commensurateo too theo losso sustainedo byo rioto victimso ando iso moreo equitable.o o o Aoshortoreplyohadobeenofiledoonobehalfoofotheorespondent-Unionoofo Indiaowhereinotheofactsoasostatedoaboveowereonotodisputed.oItowas,ohowever,o submittedothatotheoMinistryoofoHomeoAffairs,oGovernmentoofoIndiaohadoframedoao policyoi.e.o"Sanctionoofo'RehabilitationoPackage'otooprovideoreliefotootheovictimso ofo1984"oriotsoandocirculatedotheosameovideoletteroNo.U-13018/46/2005-Delhi-I(NC)odatedo16.01.2006.oAsoperotheoabovesaidorehabilitationopackage,otheoentireo expenditureoofopaymentoofoex-gratiaocompensationoinocaseoofodeath,oinjuryoando foro damageo too propertyo waso too beo initiallyo madeo byo theo respectiveo Stateo Government/UTso ando theo sameo waso too beo reimbursedo byo theo Centralo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-8-o 2023:PHHC:143786o Governmentoafteroreceiptoofoutilizationocertificate.oSinceotheoCommissionohado beenosetoupoafterotheorehabilitationopolicyodatedo16.01.2006,otheoclaim,oifoany,o haso too beo disbursedo firstlyo byo theo Stateo Governmento ando ito cano seeko reimbursementoofotheosameofromotheoUnionoofoIndiaoonlyothereafter.oTheosaido schemeowasoclosedovideoletterodatedo05.12.2012oandoitowasoconveyedothatoifoanyo claimoremainsounsettled,otheosameowasotoobeosettledofinallyobyo31.12.2012oando noonewoapplicationowasotoobeoacceptedoforopaymentoofocompensationothereafter.o ItowasoalsooaverredothatotheoMinistryoofoHomeoAffairsohasonooroleoinotheoprocesso ofo constitutiono ofo theo Commission,o verificationo ofo theo claimo aso wello aso ino makingopaymentoasoperotheorecommendationsoofotheoCommission.oo o o Ao separateo writteno statemento hado beeno filedo ono behalfo ofo respondentsoNo.2oando3obyotheoJointoSecretary,oGovernmentoofoHaryanaoinotheo DepartmentoofoHomeoAffairs.oTheofactualoaspectoasonoticedoaboveohaveonotobeeno disputedoevenobyotheorespondentsoNo.2oando3oi.e.otheoStateoofoHaryana.oItohas,o however,obeenosubmittedothatooneoCWPoNo.25029oofo2017otitledoaso'Harbhajano SinghoandoothersoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoOthers'oinvolvingosimilaroissuesohado beenofiledoandotheosameowasodismissedoono22.11.2017.oTheoorderopassedoinotheo saidowritopetitionowasosubjectomatteroofochallengeoinoLPAoNo.31oofo2018.oTheo sameo waso alsoo dismissedo video ordero datedo 18.01.2018.o Hence,o theo reporto submittedobyotheoCommissionoasowelloasotheorecommendationsomadeobyoitowitho regardotootheoquantumoofocompensationowereoaffirmed.oTheooperativeopartoofotheo orderodatedo22.11.2017opassedoinoCWPoNo.25029oofo2017o(supra)oisoextractedo asounder:oo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-9-o 2023:PHHC:143786o "Inothisocase,othereowereo32ocasesoofodeath,o6ocasesoofoinjuryoando 36ocasesoofolossotootheoproperty.oTheoCommissionohadonotoonlyopaido personalovisitsobutoalsoodecidedotheoamountoofocompensationoaftero framingo relevanto issueso ono theo pleadingso ando takingo intoo considerationotheoevidenceoledobyotheoparties...........o Consequently,otheoreportoofotheoCommissionodoesonotocalloforoanyo interferenceo foro theo purposeo ofo furthero enhancemento ofo compensationoandohence,otheopresentopetitionoisoherebyodismissedo inolimine."o o o o Itowasothusocontendedothatotheocompensationorecommendedobyotheo Commissionohasothusobeenoheldojust,osufficientoandoreasonableobyothisoCourtoando theosaidoorderohasoattainedofinality.oTheocompensationoassessedohasoalreadyobeeno disbursedoandothereoisonooreasonofororeopeningotheoentireoissueoasoindividualo claimso wereo noto beingo consideredo ando ao bencho marko ex-gratiao financialo assistanceowasoextendedotootheopeopleowhoohadosufferedolossesoandothatotheo aggrievedopersonsomay,oifosooadvised,otakeorecourseotootheoremediesoforoseekingo compensationo byo wayo ofo ano appropriateo individualo petition.o Theo processo ofo assessmentoofocompensationobyoapplyingotheomoduleoofotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o 1988owouldonotobeoapplicableotootheoassessmentoofoex-gratiaocompensationoaso thereoisonoosuchostatutoryoprovision.oInomattersoofosuchomagnitudeoandonature,o ex-gratiaocompensationoisodisbursedounderorehabilitationopackageobyotheoStateso andoonoaouniformocriterionowithoutodiscriminationotooanyopersonoandothatosaido criteriaocannotobeoheldotoobeobad.oReferenceoisoalsoomadeotootheojudgmentsoofo variousoHon'bleoHighoCourtsoinorelationotootheovictimsoofotheo1984oriots,owhicho areoextractedoasounder:o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-10-o 2023:PHHC:143786o "ThatothisoCourtoinocaseoofoKulwantoKaurovsoStateoOfoHaryanaoono 16o April,o 1998,o (1999)o 121o PLRo 108o waso pleasedo too ordero aso under:-o "6oKeepingoinoviewotheofactsoofothisocaseoandoinoparticularo thatopetitioner,oaohaplessowidowowithothreeominorochildreno hasoreallyotoofeedoherselfoandoherothreeofemaleochildrenoando thatoherodeceasedohusbandowasoHavaldaroinoArmyohavingoao reasonablyogoodopayoandofacilitiesolifeofreeoaccommodationo andofreeorationoanoamountoofoRso3,50,000/-owouldonotoinoanyo caseobeoexcessive.oInofactoitomayobeosomewhatoonolowerosideo Weothus,odirectotheoGovernmentoofoHaryanaotoomakeooverotheo petitioneroanoamountoofoRso3.50oLakhsominusoRs.o20,000/-o alreadyopaid."o That,o theo Delhio Higho Court,o ino caseo ofo Bhajano Kauro vso Delhio Administrationo ILRo 1996o Delhio 754o waso pleasedo too ordero aso under:-o "ItoisoalsoonoteworthyothatotheoSupremeoCourtoawardedoRs.o1o lakho too Rs.7.5o lakhso foro illegalo curtailmento ofo lifeo aso indicatedo ino theo aforesaido decisions.o Therefore,o obviouslyo theo compensationo oro exo gratiao paymento aso ao measureo ofo immediateoreliefotootheovictim'sofamilyoshouldobeomoreothano Rs.o50,000.00oandobetweenoRs.1olakhoandoRs.o7.5olakhs."o That,otheoDelhioHighoCourtoinocase,oGannyoKauroVsoGovt.oofoNCTo ofoDelhio&oAnr.oono8oMarch,o2018odirectedotooreleaseoaosumoofo Rs.5,00,000/-oinofavouroofotheopetitioner.o That,otheoJharkhandoHighoCourtoinocaseoofoBalvinderoKauro&oOrso vsoUnionoofoIndiao&oOrs,odecidedoono14oJuly,o2017,oorderedoaso under:-o "Thiso Courto ino viewo ofo theo severalo orderso passedo byo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoandoparticularly,oinotheoyearo2006,o anoorderowasopassedoforopaymentoofoRs.5.00olakhsotooeacho Sikhoriotsovictims,oifotheopetitionersohaveonotoreceivedotheo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-11-o 2023:PHHC:143786o saido amount,o theo Deputyo Commissionero ofo theo Bokaroo districtoisodirectedotooextendotheosameobenefitoafteropropero enquiry.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoalsoodirectedoforo paymento ofo Rso 5.00o lakho othero thano whato haso beeno paido earlierotooeachoofotheoSikhoriotsovictimsoinoviewoofotheoreporto ofoNanawatioCommission."o That,otheoChhattisgarhoHighoCourtoinocaseoofoKeharoSinghoAndo Anr.ovsoStateoOfoChhattisgarhoAndoAnrodecidedoono1oMay,o2002,o orderedoasounder-o o "8.oHavingoconsideredotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheo caseo ando materialo availableo ono recordo ando takingo intoo considerationotheojudgmentoofoDelhioHighoCourtopassedoino caseoofoBhajanoKauro(supra)oandotheodecisionoofoSupremeo courto ino caseo ofo SS.o Ahluwaliao vo Uniono (supra),o ino theo opinionoofothisoCourt,oitoisojustoandoproperothatoaosumoofoRs.o 2,00,000/-o aso compensationo beo awardedo fromo theo dateo ofo incidentowithointeresto@o9%operomonthoafteroadjustingotheo amountoalreadyopaidotootheodependents,owithinooneomontho fromo theo dateo ofo receipt/productiono ofo ao copyo ofo thiso judgment."k o o o Itoisofurtherocontendedothatotheocompensationograntedotootheorioto victimsovariedofromoRs.1,00,000/-otooRs.7.5olacsoandoasosuch,otheocompensationo recommendedobyotheoCommissionoandodisbursedobyotheoStateocannotobeosaidotoo beo unjust,o insufficiento oro unreasonable.o Allo theo aspectso haveo beeno fullyo examinedo ando theo delayo ino assessmento ando disbursemento ofo ex-gratiao compensationohasobeenodulyofactoredoinobyotheoCommissionowhileomakingoitso CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-12-o 2023:PHHC:143786o o o Nooreplication/rejoinderotootheowrittenostatementohasobeenofiledobyo theocounseloforotheopetitionerso o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasovehementlyoarguedothatotheo respondent-Stateo doeso noto denyo theo occurrenceo ofo theo incident.o Theo sheero volumeoofotheonumberoofocasualtiesoato32,otheoinjuredoato06oandothoseowhoo sustainedodamageo too theiropropertyo ato 36o establisheso theo magnitudeo ofoStateo failureoinomaintainingolawoandoorderoresultingoinoincalculableolossotootheovictimso onoaccountoofodefaultoofotheorespondent-Stateoinoperformanceoofoitsoobligationso requiredoasoperolaw.oItoisoarguedothatotheocompensationorecommendedobyotheo Commissionero iso insufficiento ando doeso noto adopto anyo uniformo formulao foro determinationoofocompensationoandoitowouldohaveobeenofeasibleothatoaocriteriono forodeterminationoofocompensationooughtotoohaveobeenorecommendedoandothatoito couldo haveo beeno moreo apto too determineo theo compensationo byo applyingo theo criteriao aso prescribedo undero theo Motoro Vehicleso Act,o 1988.o Theo saido methodologyo wouldo haveo reflectedo theo objectivityo ino determinationo ofo compensation.o Itoisoalsoo contendedo thatotheoCommissionofello ino erroro ino noto grantingoanyointerestoonotheosaidoamountoandothatotheopetitionersowereoentitledotoo claimointerestoonotheoamountoofocompensationorecommendedow.e.f.otheodateoofo Constitutiono ofo theo Commissiono tillo finalo disbursemento ofo theo compensationo consideringothatotheolossowasosustainedobyotheopetitionersoinotheoriotsoofo1984o andotheocomputationoofocompensationoasowelloasoitsodisbursementowasoalreadyo delayedo inordinately.o Theo counselo foro theo petitionerso placeso relianceo ono theo DivisionoBenchojudgmentoofothisoCourtopassedoinotheomatteroofo"DabwalioFireo TragedyoVictimsoAssociationoVersusoUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers",oreportedoaso CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-13-o 2023:PHHC:143786o

(2009)o10oRCRo(Civil)o334otoosubstantiateohisoabovesaidoargumentsoandoseekingo awardoofointerestoonotheocompensationosoocomputed.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheo abovesaidojudgmentoreadsothus:oo "24.o Forotheopurposeoofoawardoofocompensation,otheoCommissiono categorizedo theo claimo petitionso intoo followingo sixo distincto categories:-o 1)oo Deatho caseso involvingo childreno betweeno theo ageogroupo ofo oneomonthotootenoyears;o 2)oo Deathocasesoinvolvingochildrenobetweenotheoageogroupoofoteno toofifteenoyears;o 3)oo Deatho caseso involvingo childreno betweeno theo ageogroupo ofo sixteenotootwentyotwooyears;o 4)oo Deatho caseso involvingo housewiveso includingo workingo women;o 5)o o Deathocasesoinvolvingoworkingomen;oAndo 6)o o Claimso basedo ono injurieso sustainedo byo theo victimso men,o womenoandochildren.o o Categoryo1oCaseso

25.o Inosoofaroasodeathocasesoinvolvingochildrenobetweenotheoageo groupoofooneomonthotootenoyears,otheoCommissionorelyingouponotheo decisionsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoC.K.oSubramoniaoIyero &o Otherso v.o T.o Kunhikuttano Nairo &o OthersoAIRo 1970o Supremeo Courto376,oNewoIndiaoAssuranceoCompanyoLimitedov.oSatendero&o Otherso2007o (1)o Civilo Courto Caseso 255o (SC),o Latao Wadhwao &o Othersov.oStateoofoBiharo&oOtherso(2001)o8oSupremeoCourtoCaseso 197,oM.S.oGrewalo&oAnotherov.oDeepoChandoSoodo&oOtherso2001o Supremeo Courto Caseso (Criminal)o 1426,o awardedo too theo parents/nextoofokinoofoeachochildokilledoinotheoincident,oaolumposumo amountoofoRs.2,00,000/-otowardsocompensation.oItoisonoteworthyo thatomajorityoofotheovictimsofelloinothisocategory,oasooutoofoaototaloofo fourohundredoandofortyosixodead,o172ohappenedotoobeochildrenoino theoageogroupoofooneomonthotootenoyears.oo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-14-o 2023:PHHC:143786o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

39.o Weo haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ato considerableolength.oWeohaveoalsoobeenotakenothroughotheomaterialo ono recordo includingo theo depositionso recordedo beforeo theo Commission.o Theo followingo questions,o ino ouro opinion,o fallo foro determination:o 1)oo Whethero theo findingso ofo facto recordedo byo theo Oneo Mano Commissiono ofo Inquiryo regardingo theo genesiso ofo theo fireo incidento ando theo concomitanto negligenceo leadingo too 446o deathsoandoinjuriesotoo200osufferofromoanyoerroroofolawooro perversityotoowarrantointerferenceofromothisoCourt?o 2)oo IfoanswerotooQuestionoNo.1oaboveoisoinotheonegative,owasotheo Commissiono ofo Inquiryo legallyo correcto ino holdingo thato respondentoNo.9-RajivoMarriageoPalaceowasoanoAgentoofotheo D.A.V.o Schoolo andoManagemento Committee,o respondentso No.4oando5,osooasotoorenderotheolaterovicariouslyoliableoforo theoactsoofonegligenceocommittedobyotheoformer?o 3)oo Isotheoapportionmentoofotheoresponsibilityoandonegligenceoforo theofireotragedyoinoquestionoandotheoliabilityoflowingofromotheo sameo fairo ando reasonableo havingo regardo too theo actso ofo omissionoandocommissionoandotheoroleoplayedobyoeachooneoofo thoseoheldoresponsibleoforotheoincident?o 4)oo Areo theo claimantso entitledo too seeko enhancemento ino theo paymento ofo compensationo ino theo lighto ofo theo consensuso allegedlyoarrivedoatobeforeotheoOneoManoCommission?o 5)oo Inocase,oanswerotooquestionoNo.3oisoinotheoaffirmative,owhato iso theo extento ofo enhancemento too whicho theo petitionero ando claimantsoareoentitledoinoeachocategoryoand/oroclaimopetitiono filedobyothemobeforeotheoCommissionoandoonowhatobasis?o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-15-o 2023:PHHC:143786o 6)oo Toowhatootheroreliefsoareotheoclaimantsoentitled?oWeoshallo dealowithotheoaboveoquestionsoadoseriatim.o XXXXoo XXXXoo XXXXo

200.o Thereoareothreeodistinctoaspectsowhichoneedotoobeoaddressedo whileodealingowithothisoquestion.oTheofirstorelatesotoopaymentoofo interesto ono theo amounto awardedo ino favouro ofo theo claimants.o Whetheroanyointerestoisoatoalloawardable,oand,oifoso,ofromowhatodateo andoatowhatorateowouldofalloforodeterminationowhileodealingowitho thisoaspect.oTheosecondoaspectorelatesotootheomodeooforecoveryotoobeo adoptedoinotheoeventoofoaodefaultoinotheopaymentoofotheoamountobyo thoseoheldoliable.oTheothirdoaspectothatoneedsotoobeoaddressedoiso whetherotheoinjuredovictimsoareoentitledotooaodirectionoforotreatmento atotheoexpenseoofotheoStateoinofuture.o

201.o Comingotootheoquestionoofoawardoofointerest,oitowasoarguedo onobehalfoofotheoSchoolobyoMr.oRajivoAtmaoRamothatotheoOneoMano Commissiono hado noto awardedo anyo interesto ino favouro ofo theo claimants,o whicho aspecto haso beeno lefto too beo determinedo byo thiso Court.oHeourgedothatonoointerestohadobeenoawardedoevenoinoLatao Wadhwa'so caseo (Supra)o eithero byo Justiceo Chandrachud,o whoo conductedoanoInquiryointootheoclaimsoorobyotheoApexoCourt.oThis,o accordingotootheolearnedocounsel,oimpliedothatoawardoofointeresto wasonotoanoessentialopartoofotheoawardoofocompensationoforotheo Tortsosufferedobyotheoclaimants.o

202.oo Onobehalfoofotheoclaimants,oitowasoper-contraoarguedothato sinceo theo amounto ofo compensationo waso beingo awardedo ono theo principlesogoverningoclaimsomadeounderotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o 1988,othereowasonooreasonowhyoitoshouldobeodeniedotootheoclaimantso especiallyowhenoSectiono171oofotheoActoempowersotheoTribunalotoo awardointerestoatosuchorateoandofromosuchodateonotoearlierothanotheo dateoofomakingotheoclaimoasomayobeospecifiedobyotheoTribunal.oIto wasocontendedothatointerestowasoawardedoinoM.S.oGarewal'socaseo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-16-o 2023:PHHC:143786o (Supra)oandoisoinvariablyoawardedoinoalloMotoroVehicleoAccidento Claimocases.o

203.o Sectiono 171oofo theo Motoro Vehicleso Act,o 1988o makeso ao specificoprovisionoforoawardoofointerestowhereoanyoclaimoisoallowedo byotheoMotoroAccidentoClaimsoTribunal.oTheorateoofointerestoando theo dateo fromo whicho theo sameo iso payableo is,o however,o ino theo discretionoofotheoTribunal,osubjectotootheoconditionothatotheodateoofo awardoofointerestocannotobeoearlierotootheodateoofomakingoofotheo claim.oAsoseenobyousoinotheoearlieropartoofothisojudgmentoawardoofo compensationotootheoclaimantsoinodeathoandoinjuryocasesohasobeeno guidedobyotheobroadoprinciplesoapplicableotoocasesoarisingoundero theoMotoroVehiclesoAct.oTheomultiplieromethodoofodeterminationoofo compensationoinodeathocasesoandotheobroadoprinciplesoonowhicho amountso haveo beeno determinedo byo uso ino injuryo caseso areo noto differentofromothoseoappliedoandodeterminedounderotheosaidoAct.o Suchobeingotheoposition,othereoisonooreasonowhyoawardoofointeresto shouldo beo deniedo too theo claimantso especiallyo wheno theo righto too claimoandoreceiveotheoamountorelatesobackotootheodateoonowhichotheo incidentohadotakenoplaceoandotheoawardoofointerestotootheodateoono whicho ao claimo foro paymento ofo compensationo filed.o Thato aparto awardo ofo interesto simplyo ensureso thato theo claimantso areo noto prejudicedoonoaccountoofotheodelayoinodeterminationoofotheiroclaimso byo suitablyo compensatingo them,o foro sucho delay.o Noo juristico principleohasobeenocitedobyotheorespondentsoonowhichoawardoofo interestomayobeosaidotoobeoimpermissibleoinoaocaseolikeotheooneoato hand.oIndeedoevenoinoM.S.oGarewal'socaseo(Supra)otheoCourtohado awardedointerestoatotheorateoofo6%oinofavouroofotheoclaimants.oTheo factothatonoointerestowasoawardedoinoLataoWadhwa'socaseo(Supra)o alsoocannotoinoouroopinion,obeoconstruedoasoaodeclarationoofolawo especiallyowhenotheoquestionowhetherointerestowasopayableoandoifo so,ofromowhatodateoandoatowhatorateohadonotobeenourgedobeforeo theiro Lordshipso foro determination.o Ifo theo judgmento ino Latao CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-17-o 2023:PHHC:143786o Wadhwa'soCaseo(Supra)oisosilentoonotheoquestionoofointerest,otheo sameocannotobeocitedoasoanoauthorityoforodenialoofointerestotootheo claimantsoinotheopresentocase.o

204.o Thatobringsousotootheoquestionoasotoowhatoshouldobeotheorateo ofointerestoandofromowhatodate.oInsofaroasotheodateofromowhichotheo interestoisotoobeoawardedoisoconcerned,oweoseeonooreasonotoogoo againstotheoprovisionsoofotheoSectiono171oofotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o 1988,onoomatterothatoprovisionomayohaveonoodirectoapplicationotoo theocaseoatohand.oItowouldobeojustoandoproperoinoouroopinionotoo awardointerestoonlyofromotheodateoofotheofilingoofotheoclaimopetitionso beforeo theo Oneo Mano Commission.o Theo rateo ato whicho theo saido interestooughtotoobeopaidotootheoclaimantsoalsooshouldonotopresento anyoseriousodifficulty.oAlthoughothereoareodecisionsoinowhichorateoofo interestohasobeenoasohighoaso12%operoannum,oasoinotheocaseoofo KaushlyaoDevioVs.oKaranoArorao&oOrs.oAIRo2007oSCo1912oando MunicipaloCorporationoofoGreateroBombayoVs.oShrioLaxmanoIyero andoAnr.,o2003(4)oRCRo(Civil)o764,oweoareoofotheoviewothatosimpleo interesto ato theo rateo ofo 6%o fromo theo dateo ofo filingo ofo theo claimo petitionowouldoserveotheoendsoofojustice.o

205.o Theo nexto questiono relateso too theo modeo ofo recoveryo ofo theo amounto awardedo againsto theo respondentso ino theo evento ofo theiro defaultoinomakingotheopayment.oItomayobeorecalledothatooutoofotheo totaloamountoawardedobyous,o45%ohasobeenomadeopayableobyotheo StateoGovernmentooutoofowhicho15%oisoitsoownoliabilityowhileotheo remainingo30%oisotheoliabilityoofotheoDakshinoHaryanaoBijlioVirtrano NigamoandoMunicipaloCommittee,oDabwaliowitholibertyotootheoStateo toorecoverotheosameo fromo theo Boardoando Municipalo Committee,o Dabwali.oAodirectionoissuedotootheoStateoGovernmentotoopayotheo saidoamountowithinotheotimeostipulatedobyous,owouldoinoouroopinion,o sufficeoasoaoviolationoofotheosaidodirectionomayoitselfobeotheosubjecto mattero ofo contempto proceedingso beforeo thiso Court.o Whato iso significantoisothato55%oofotheoamountoawardedobyousoisopayableobyo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-18-o 2023:PHHC:143786o respondentsoNo.o4,o5oando9.oWhileoproceedingsoforodisobedienceoofo theodirectionotoopayomayobeopermissibleoevenoforoenforcementoofotheo saidodirectionoagainstotheosaidorespondentsoalsooweoneedotooclarifyo thatoapartofromorecourseotoothoseoproceedings,otheoamountoheldo recoverableo fromo respondentso No.o No.o 4,o 5o ando 9o shallo beo recoverableobothoasofineoand/oroasoarrearsoofolandorevenue.oInotheo eventoofodefaultoinopaymentoofotheoamountowithinotheotimeothatoweo areograntingoforosuchopaymentooroinotheoeventoofoaodisputeoasotootheo exactosumopayableoinotermsoofoouroorder,otheoCourtoofoAdditionalo CiviloJudgeo(Sr.oDivn.),oDabwali,oshallobeocompetentotoodetermineo theo questiono ando directo paymento whicho direction/ordero shallo tantamounto too ao certificateo foro recoveryo ofo theo amounto soo determinedofromotheosaidorespondents,oasofineoand/oroasoarrearsoofo landorevenueobyotheoconcernedorevenueoauthority.o

206.o Thato leaveso uso witho theo onlyo othero aspecto viz.o whethero directionso foro treatmento ato theo expenseo ofo theo Stateo needo too beo issuedoforotheobenefitoofotheoinjuredovictims.oAllothatoweoneedosayoino thatoregardoisothatothisoCourtohad,ovideoitsoordersodatedo10.12.1996,o

24.09.2001o&o18.02.2002odirectedosuchotreatment.oTreatmentohaso beenoaccordinglyoprovidedotootheoinjuredoasoandowhenorequired.oAllo thatoweoneedosayoisothatoinocaseotheoState-runohospitalsoinoHaryanao areonotoequippedotooprovideotheorequisiteotreatmentotootheovictims,o sucho treatmento mayo beo providedo eithero ato theo Posto Graduateo InstituteoofoMedicaloEducationoandoResearch,oChandigarh,ooroato theoAlloIndiaoInstituteoofoMedicaloSciences,oNewoDelhi,oatotheoCosto ofotheoStateoGovernmentouponosatisfactionoofotheoDirector,oHealtho Services,oGovernmentoofoHaryanaothatosuchotreatmentocannotobeo providedoinotheoStateorunoHospitals.o

207.o Beforeo concluding,o weo needo too pointo outo thato whileo theo hearingo ofo theseo caseso was,o ato ano advancedo stage,o Civilo Miscellaneouso No.1011o ofo 2009o waso filedo byo applicanto Vinodo Kumaroclaimingocompensationoonoaccountoofodeathoofohisowifeoando CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-19-o 2023:PHHC:143786o daughtero namelyo Smt.o Asha,o agedo 28o yearso ando Gangao aliaso Kunjano Ranio agedo abouto 3½o yearso ando Civilo Miscellaneouso No.16045oofo2009owasofiledobyoapplicantoSmt.oAniloAroraowifeoofo Vijayo Arorao claimingo compensationo ono accounto ofo deatho ofo hero husbandoVijayoKumaroandosonsonamelyoAnkitoagedosixoyearsoando Archito agedo seveno years.o Ito waso submittedo byo Ms.o Anjuo Arora,o Advocate,othatotheseoclaimsocouldobeoentertainedobyothisoCourtoato thiso stageo alsoo ando suitableo directionso beo issuedo foro claimingo compensation.oWeoregretoouroinabilityotoodooso.oTheoproceedingso beforeotheoCommissionohadoremainedopendingoforonearlyosixoyears.o Nooclaimopetitionowas,ohowever,ofiledobyotheoapplicantsobeforeotheo OneoManoCommission.oTheoapplicantsohaveoattemptedotooofferoano explanationo foro theiro failure.o Weo doo not,o however,o considero ito necessaryotooexamineoeitherotheoexplanationoorotheoclaimoforotheo presentoproceedings,oatothisostage,owhichoremainedoconfinedoonlyo toocasesothatowereofiledobeforeotheoOneoManoCommissionoandoino whichoevidenceowasoadducedobyotheoclaimantsoinoproofoofotheiro respectiveoclaims.oWhetherooronototheoapplicantsocanomaintainotheo claimso ato thiso distincto pointo ofo timeo and,o ifo so,o whethero theo allegationso formingo theo basiso ofo claimo areo supportedo byo anyo materialoand,oifoso,owhatoisotheoamountowhichocanobeoawardedobyo wayoofocompensation,oareomixedoquestionsoofolawoandofactsowhicho weocannot,oinotheseoproceedings,oentertainoatothisostage.oToothatoweo cano sayo thato theo applicantso shallo beo freeo too fileo appropriateo proceedingsopermissibleoinolawoforosuchoreliefoasomayobeodueotoo themobutosubjectotooallojustoexceptionsoincludingomaintainabilityo andolimitations.o Inotheoresultoweopassotheofollowingoorder:o 1)oo Theoamountsodeterminedoinoeachooneoofotheocasesoreferredotoo inotheobodyoofothisojudgmentoareoherebyoawardedoinofavouroofo theo claimantso witho interesto ato theo rateo ofo 6%o pero annumo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-20-o 2023:PHHC:143786o w.e.f.odateoofotheofilingoofotheoclaimopetitionobeforeotheoOneo ManoCommission.o 2)oo Outoofotheototaloamountopayableotooeachooneoofotheoclaimant,o theoStateoofoHaryanaoshallopayo45%oofotheototaloamountoofo compensationoawardedoinoeachooneoofotheocasesodealtowitho byousowitholibertyotoorecovero15%oeachoofotheoamountosoopaido fromoDakshinoHaryanaoBijlioVirtranoNigamoandoMunicipalo Committee,o Dabwali.o Theo balanceo 55%o ofo theo amounto awardedo shallo beo payableo byo respondentso No.4,o 5o ando 9o jointlyoandoseverally.o 3)oo Theo apportionmento foro theo enhancedo amounto ofo compensationo amongo theo claimantso shallo beo ino theo sameo ratiooasorecommendedobyotheoOneoManoCommissionosubjecto onlyotoomodificationsoand/orofurtherodirectionsoindicatedobyo usoinotheobodyoofothisojudgment.oWeomakeoitoclearothatoino caseso whereo weo haveo directedo deposito ofo theo amounto ofo compensationo ino theo nameo ofo minoro claimants,o theo sameo shallobeodisbursedotootheoclaimantsoinocaseotheyohaveoalreadyo attainedomajority.o 4)oo Theoamountoawardedobyousotogetherowithointerestoshallobeo depositedobyotheorespondentsoinotheoratiooindicatedoinoparao2o aboveowithotheoAdditionaloCiviloJudgeo(Sr.oDivn.),oDabwalio forodisbursementoamongotheoclaimantsowithinoaoperiodoofo4o monthso fromo today,o failingo whicho theo rateo ofo interesto awardedobyousoonotheoprincipaloamountoheldopayable,oshallo standoenhancedofromo6%otoo10%operoannumofromotheodateo theoperiodoofo4omonthsoexpiresotilloactualopaymentoisomade.o 5)oo Inotheoeventoofoanyodefaultobyotheorespondentsoinotheomakingo ofo theo payment,o theo claimantso shallo beo freeo too noto onlyo instituteoproceedingsoforotheobreachoofotheodirectionoofothiso Courto buto alsoo approacho theo Additionalo Civilo Judgeo (Sr.o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-21-o 2023:PHHC:143786o Divn.),o Dabwalio foro effectingo recoveryo ofo theo amounto remainingounpaid.o 6)oo TheoAdditionaloCiviloJudgeo(Sr.oDivn.),oDabwali,oshall,oino anyo sucho event,o initiateo proceedingso foro recoveryo ofo theo amountothatoremainsounpaidoasoifotheosameowasorecoverableo asofineoand/oroasoarrearsoofolandorevenueoforowhichopurposeo heoshallobeocompetentotooissueocertificatesoandoinstructionsotoo theo Collector(s)o concernedo foro recoveringo theo amounto outstanding.o 7)oo Treatmento foro theo burno injuryo sustainedo byo theo injuredo victimsoshallobeoprovidedofreeoofocost.oInocaseotheosameoisonoto availableoinotheoState-runohospitalsoinoHaryana,otheosameo shallo beo arrangedo ino Posto Graduateo Instituteo ofo Medicalo Educationo ando Research,o Chandigarho oro ato theo Allo Indiao InstituteoofoMedicaloSciences,oNewoDelhiouponosatisfactiono byotheoDirector,oHealthoServices,oGovernmentoofoHaryanao thatosuchotreatmentoisoessentialobutocannotobeoprovidedoinotheo State-runohospitals.o 8)oo Libertyo iso giveno too theo petitionerso too seeko furthero clarificationoofothisoorderoatoanyostage,oshouldotheoneedosoo arise.o 9)oo Civilo Miscellaneouso Nos.1011o ando 16045o ofo 2009o areo dismissedowitholibertyotootheoapplicantsotoofileoappropriateo proceedingsoforopaymentoofoamountoofocompensationoand/oro otheroreliefsodueotoothemosubjectotoojustoexceptionsoincludingo maintainabilityoofoclaimsoandolimitationsoetc.o 10)oo TheocostsoinvolvedoinotheosettingoupoofotheoCommissionofromo beginningotilloendoshallobeoborneobyotheoStateoofoHaryana.o 11)o TheopartiesoshallobearotheiroownocostsoinothisoCourt,oandoino theoproceedingsobeforeotheoOneoManoCommission."o o o o Itoisothusocontendedothatointeresto@o6%operoannumowasoawardedo fromotheodateoofofilingoofoclaimopetitionobeforeotheooneomanoCommissionoandoaso CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-22-o 2023:PHHC:143786o such,otheocompensationoatopar,oinotheoformoofoawardingointerestofromotheodateoofo constitutiono ofo theo Commission,o oughto too alsoo beo grantedo too theo petitionerso herein.oo o o CounseloforotheoState,oonotheocontrary,ocontendedothatotheojudgmento inotheomatteroofoDabwalioFireoTragedyo(supra)oisonotodisputed,ohowever,otheo saidojudgmentoisonotoapplicableotootheofactsoofotheopresentocase,osinceotheocounselo representingo theo petitionerso beforeo theo Commissiono agreedo thato theo amounto claimedowasoonoexcessiveosideoandothatotheopetitionersowouldobeosatisfiedoifoano amountoofoRs.25,00,000/-ooroaolittleolessoisograntedotootheopetitionersowithorespecto tootheoeachodeath.oHence,otheoex-gratiaocompensationoclaimedobyotheopetitionerso themselvesowasoaroundoRs.25,00,000/-oandothatotheopetitionersowereosatisfiedo withotheosaidocompensationotoobeojustoandoappropriate.oTheocompensationohaso thuso beeno recommendedo byo theo Commissiono aftero recordingo theo abovesaido satisfactiono ofo theo petitionerso themselves.o Hence,o ao compensationo ofo Rs.25,00,000/-o waso awardedo too theo widowo ofo theo loneo armyo mano Inderjeeto Singh,o whileo ao compensationo ofo Rs.20,00,000/-o hado beeno grantedo too theo claimantsoquaoeachoofotheoremainingo31odeathsonoticingothatotheosaidofamilieso hadoalreadyoreceivedoaocompensationoofoRs.7,00,000/-oeachoearlieroinopointoofo time.oThus,oonceotheopartiesohadoalreadyogototheirostatementsorecordedotootheo effecto thato theyo wouldo beo satisfiedo ifo ao compensationo equivalento too Rs.25,00,000/-oisoawardedotoothem,otheosameohavingobeenorecommendedoando granted,oitowouldonotobeoopenoforothemo tooseekoredeterminationoofoaohighero compensationo despiteo theo compensationo havingo beeno grantedo aftero recordingo theiroconsent.oHeoplacesorelianceoonotheoextractoofotheoreportowhichoreadsothus:o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-23-o 2023:PHHC:143786o "73.o Duringo theo courseo ofo finalo arguments,o whileo franklyo admittingotheoreceiptoofoRs.7.00olakhsoquaoeachoofo31odeceasedo(outo ofo32)oandonothingoquaotheodeathoofotheoloneoArmyomanoInderjito Singh,otheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioner'soSarvshrioR.S.oYadavo andoJ.S.oMakkarohaveobothoagreedothatotheoamountoofoRs.70.00o lakhso claimedo quao eacho ofo 32o deathso iso certainlyo highlyo exaggerated.oTheyohave,ohowever,ofinallyosubmittedoatotheobarothato theopetitioner'sowouldobeosatisfiedoifoanoamountoofooRs.25.00olakhso oroaolittleolessoisonowograntedotootheopetitionersoquaoeachodeath."o o o o Whileoadvertingotootheoclaimoraisedobyotheopetitionersothatotheyo wouldo beo entitledo too interesto ono theo delayedo disbursemento ofo theo ex-gratiao compensation,o counselo foro theo respondentso haso arguedo thato theo questiono ofo interestobecomesosignificantowhereotheoclaimoisobeingodisbursedoinorelationotootheo periodowhenotheolossooccurred,ohowever,owhereotheoclaimoisobeingodeterminedo onoaocurrentodateoandohavingoalreadyotakenointooconsiderationotheodelayocaused,o theopetitionersowouldonotobeoentitledotootheointerestoonotheocompensation.ooTheo saidoaspectowasodulyoconsideredowhileodeterminingotheoex-gratiaocompensation.o Theoconceptoofointerestoshowsothatoitoisoaoreturnoonoaoloanoorootheromonetaryo obligation.oInogeneraloterms,oitoisoaoreturnoorocompensationoforouseoororetentiono byooneopersonoofoaosumoofomoney,oowedotooanother.oThus,oanoelementoofoamounto beingo due,o iso ano integralo ando basico featureo foro awardo ofo interest.o Theo determinationoofotheoamountotoobeodueoasocompensation,owhenobeingodeterminedo inopresent,oandowithoconsentoofotheoparties,otheosaidoamountocannotothereafterobeo construedoasodueoonoanyopriorodateothanotheodeterminationoofotheoamountoitself.o TheoCommissionoisoconsciousoofoallotheosaidoaspectsoandodeterminesotheoawardo aftero consideringo allo aspecto ando recommendso theo sameo ino theo present.o Theo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-24-o 2023:PHHC:143786o determinationo ofo losso doeso noto relateo backo too ano earliero dateo ando haso too beo interprettedoinotheopresent.oTheoacceptanceoofotheoclaimoandoagreementoofotheo claimantotootheosaidoamountoitselfosealsotheodemandoandodisentitlesoforoclaimoofo interestofromoanyopriorodate.oReferenceoisomadeotootheoextractoofotheoreport,o whichoreadsothus:o "74.o Opposingotheoaboveosubmissionsoofotheolearnedocounseloforo theo petitioners,o theo learnedo Deputyo Districto Attorneyo Shrio S.K.o Sharmao ando Mso Meenakshio Kumari,o ADAo arguedo thato sinceo ano amountoofoRs.7.00olakhsohasoalreadyobeenopaidoquaoeachodeath,otheo petitionersoareonotoentitledotooanyoaomoreoamountoofocompensation.o Accordingotoothem,oconsideringotheopriceoindexoandotheodevaluationo oforupeeosinceotheoyearo1984-1985otillotheoyearo2006-2007ouptoo whichotheosumoofoRs.7.00olakhsowasopaidoinothreeophasesoandowhicho carriedomuchomoreovalueoasocomparedotootheopresentovalueoofotheo currency,onooadditionaloamountoisorequiredotoobeograntedoonothiso count.o o

75.o Consideringo theo submissionso madeo ono behalfo ofo theo respondentsoi.e.otheoStateoandoitsovariousoagenciesoinotheoaboveo para,ofromotheootherosideoofotheocoin,otheirosubmissionsowouldopaleo intoocompleteoinsignificance.oInocaseoitoisofoundothatotheopetitionerso wereoentitledotoomuchomoreoamountobyowayoofocompensationoinotheo yearo 1984-85o itselfo theno thato awardedo too themo ino threeo phaseso spreadooverofromotheoyearo1984-85otoo2006o-07,oitowillobeoseenothato theovalueoofocurrencyohasoconsiderablyodecreasedofromotimeotootimeo afterothat.oInothatoviewoofotheomatter,oifotheoamountoasodemandedobyo theopetitionersothroughotheirolearnedocounselo(referredotooinoparao No.73oabove)ohadobeenograntedotoothemoimmediatelyoorosoonoaftero theo unfortunateo incident,o aftero addingo theo minimumo amounto ofo interestoprevalentofromothatotimeoonwardsotillodate,otheosaidoamounto wouldohaveocomeotooaoveryolargeofigure.oUnderotheocircumstances,o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-25-o 2023:PHHC:143786o theoargumentsoadvancedoonobehalfoofotheorespondentsobyoShrioSKo SharmaoandoMs.oMeenakshioKumariohaveonooforceonorodootheyoholdo goodoinotheopresentocontextoofotheosituation.oTheofactoremainsothato theoamountoofocompensationoawardedotootheopetitionersoquaoeacho deatho iso tooo meagreo (sic)o ando cannoto beo saido too beo "Just"o "sufficient"oando"reasonable"obyoanyostretchoofoimaginationo o

76.o Letome,otherefore,oproceedotooconsiderotheoprinciplesolaido downobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoandotheovariousoHighoCourtso fromo timeo too timeo ino Ordero too determineo "Just"o amounto ofo compensationoinotheoinstantocaseo o

77.o Twoo earliero pronouncementso ofo theo Apexo Courto Latao Wadhwao andootherso VersusoStateo ofo Biharoandootherso (2001)o 8o Supremeo Courto Caseso 197oando MSo Grewaloando anothero Versuso DeepoChandoSoodoandootherso(2001)oSupremeoCourtoCaseso(Cri)o 1426o ando threeo thato ofo Andhrao Pradesho Higho Courto citedo aso ChairmanoAPoSRTCoVersusoShafiyaoKhatoon,o1985oACJo212o(AoP)o BhagwasoDasoVersusoMohdoArifo1987oACJo1052o(AoP)oandoA.P.o SRTCoVersusoGoRamanaiah,o1988oACJo223o(AoP)omayobeoreferredo tooinothisoregardo o

78.oo TheobasicodecisionoforoconsiderationoisoShafiyaoKhatoon'so caseo(supra).oTheoprinciplesolaidodownoinothisodecisionorequireotoo beo statedo fullyo ando witho care,o especiallyo sinceo thoseo principleso constituteomyobeaconolight.oInoparagrapho74oofotheoJudgment,otheo Hon'bleo Judgeso ofo theo Andhrao Pradesho Higho Courto madeo significantorecommendationsoinotheofollowingoterms:o "CompensationoCasesoraiseoissuesoofosocialoeconomicoando financialoPolicyonotoamenableotoojudicialoreformobutocanobeo resolvedobyotheolegislatureoonlyoafterofulloconsiderationoofo factorsowhichocannotoallobeobroughtointooclearofocus,oorobeo weighedoandoassessed,oinotheocourseoofotheoforensicoprocess.o TheoJudgeohoweverowise,ocreativeoandoimaginativeoheomayo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-26-o 2023:PHHC:143786o beo -iso "cabin-d,o cribb'd,o confin'd,o boundo in"o not,o aso waso Macbeth,o too hiso "saucyo doubtso ando fears"o buto byo theo evidenceo ando argumentso ofo litigants.o Ito iso thiso limitation,o inherentoinotheoforensicoprocess,owhichosetsoboundsotootheo scopeoofojudicialolaworeform."o o

79.o Ino anothero decisiono ofo theo Apexo Courto ino theo Stateo ofo HaryanaoandoanotheroVersusoJasbiroKauroandoothersoIIIo(2003)o AccidentoandoCompensationoCaseso90o(SoC)oitowasoheldothatowhileo determiningotheoamountoofocompensationowhichoisotoobeoinotheorealo senseo "damages"o whicho ino turno appearso too ito too beo 'justo ando reasonable'.o Statutoryo provisionso clearlyo indicateo thato theo compensationomustobeo"just"oandoitocannotobeoneitheroaobonanza,o noroaosourceoofoprofitobutoatotheosameotimeoitoshouldonotobeoao pittance.o o

80.o Everyomethodooromodeoadoptedoforoassessingocompensationo haso too beo consideredo ino theo backgroundo ofo"just"o compensationo whichoisotheopivotaloconsideration.oTheoexpressiono"just"odenoteso equitability,ofairnessoandoreasonablenessoandononoarbitraryoIfoitoiso notosooitocannotobeojust.oInomyoopinion,othatocompletesoaofairlyofullo re-o statemento ofo theo principleso laido downo ino theo threeo pronouncementsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoreferredotooinoparaso 77oando79oaboveoandotheoapplicationoofotheoprinciplesolaidodownobyo theo Andhrao Pradesho Higho Courto ino theo threeo pronouncementso statedoinoparao77oabove.o o

81.o Fromotheoaboveodiscussionsoandotakingointooconsiderationo theototalityoofofacts,ocircumstances,osituationoandotheomanneroino whichotheounfortunateoincidentotookoplaceoshowingotheoextentoofo extremeobrutality.otheomethodoadoptedoinogivingopracticaloshapeotoo theonefariousodesignsotoocommitotheocrimeobyosettingofireotootheo wholeovillage,okillingoinnocentochildren,omenoandowomen,olootingo householdoarticlesoandocausingoinjuriesotoosoomanyoothersoSomeoofo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-27-o 2023:PHHC:143786o theohelplessovictimsodidoputosomeoresistanceobutoinotheofaceoofosucho aolargeounrulyomoboarmedowithoallosortsoofoweaponsoandobentoupono killingo them,o theiro resistanceo provedo ineffectiveo ando ultimatelyo thoseowhoohadoputouporesistanceoalsoosuccumbedotootheoinjurieso causedotoothemobyotheomiscreantsoItowasoindeedoanoActoofogravesto brutalityoforowhichothereocanopossiblyobeonooparalleloinotheoentireo historyoofothisopeacefuloareaoLetousoseeoasotoowhoowereotheovictimso Theyo wereo theo personso whoo wereo firstlyo uprootedo fromo theiro originalo habitatso ino villageo Karloowala,o Tehsilo Bakhar,o Districto Mianwalio(nowoinoPakistan)oinotheoyearo1947oonoaccountoofotheo partitionoofotheoCountry,omigratedotooIndiaoandosinceoresidentialo propertyoasowelloasoagriculturalolandsowereoallottedotoothemo(inolieuo ofotheopropertyoleftobyothemoinoPakistan)oinovillageoHaudoofoDistricto Rewan,othey,obyotheirocontinuousoeffortsoandohardoworkohadomadeo barreno landso cultivable,o describedo ando damaged.o Haveliso oro housesolivableoandowereolivingopeacefullyoforoabouto37oyearsowereo ultimatelyokilledoinosuchoaobrutalomanner,otheirohousesolootedoando burnt,o theiro cattle,o foddero ando allo othero belongingso reducedo too ashesoleavingothemoagainoinotheosameoconditionoinowhichotheyohado foundo themselveso aftero theo partitiono ofo theo Countryo ino theo yearo 1947o foro noo faultoofo theirs.o Moreover,o ito willoalsoobeo seeno thato nobodyofromotheoDistrictoAdministrationoorotheoStateoGovernmento everotookonoteoofotheiroplightoexceptobyogivingothemocertainograntso fromotimeotootimeotillotheoyearo2007oandothereafter,oinotheoyearo2011o forotheofirstotimeowhenotheowholeosordidoepisodeowasoperhapsoagaino agitatedoandobroughtotootheonoticeoofotheoHigheroAuthoritiesobyotheo aggrievedopersons,otheoStateoGovernmentofeltoitofitoandoproperotoo constituteotheopresentoCommissionoandohenceoallotheseoproceedingso TheopleaoraisedoonobehalfoofotheoStateoGovernmentobyotheirolearnedo counselothatoasomanyoaso13oofotheopetitionersohadofiledotheiroclaimso beforeotheoNanavatioCommissionoandoasosuchowereonotoentitledotoo anyomoreoamountoatothisostage,ohasonoomeritoparticularly,oinoviewoofo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-28-o 2023:PHHC:143786o theofactothatoneitheroallotheopetitionersonorotheonextoofokinsoLegalo heirsoofoallotheodeceasedoapproachedoNanavatioCommissiononoro couldotheyoperhapsoapproachotheosaidoCommission,omayobeoeithero forowantoofoproperoandoappropriateoknowledgeoofoitsosittingsobeingo heldoinotheoNationaloCapitaloThus,otakingoanooverallopictureoofotheo wholeosequenceoofoevents,otheomanneroinowhichotheowholeoincidento tookoplaceoresultingoinotheokillingoofoinnocentochildren,omenoando womenowithoutoanyofaultoofotheirs,oitocanosafelyobeoconcludedoandoIo haveo noo hesitationo ino doingo soo ando too holdo thato theo amounto ofo compensationoawardedotoothemosoofaroisotooomeagreo(sic)oandojustoao "pittance"oandocannotobeosaidotoobeo"just"oando"reasonable"obyoanyo stretchoofoimaginationo o

82.oo Aso pero theo latesto jamabandio entrieso foro theo yearo 2008-09o broughtoonotheorecordo(Ex.R143/HCCo1)otheowholeovillageonowo vestso ino theo Uniono Governmento ando theo villageo iso recordedo aso "GairoMumkinoAbadi".oItohasonowhereobeenopleadedobyotheoStateo Governmentooroanyoofoitsoagenciesowhoowereorespondentsobeforeo theoCommissionoinothisoreferenceoasotoowhatoeffortsodidotheyoevero makeoorostepsotheyoeverotookotoorehabilitateotheoaggrievedofamilieso afterotheoincident.oByosimplyosayingothatoanoamountoofoRs.1.00olakho inomostoofotheocasesooroaosmalloamountoinocertainocasesowasopaido forotheolossoofopropertyocannotobeosaidotoobeoanyosolaceobyoanyo stretchoofoimaginationoand,oinomyoopinion,oitocannotobeosaidotoobeo "just"o compensationo fromo anyo pointo ofo viewo soo faro aso theiro rehabilitationoisoconcerned.o o

83.oo Duringo theo courseo ofo entireo proceedings,o Io hado alsoo theo occasionotoogootoovillageoHaudotooseeotheothingsoforomyselfoTheo Deputyo Commissioner,o Rewari,o theo Senioro Superintendento ofo Police,oRewari,oseveralootheroDistrictoOfficersoandoaolargeonumbero ofo noto onlyo theo aggrievedo personso buto inhabitantso fromo neighbouringovillagesowereopresentothere.oDuringotheocourseoofomyo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-29-o 2023:PHHC:143786o inspection,oIohadonoticedothatoallotheohavelis/housesoinotheovillageo wereoinodilapidatedocondition,ocompletelyodamaged,odemolished,o burnto ando thato thereo waso noo traceo ofo humano lifeo whatsoever.o Io presentedoaoveryohorribleosightoandopresentedoaoclearopictureoofotheo holocausto ofo November,o 1984o ando whicho alsoo couldo wello beo imaginedoafteroseeingotheosceneoofocrime.o o

84.oo Inoviewoofotheoforegoingoandotheoentireodiscussionsoasoalsoo takingo intoo considerationo theo totalityo ofo circumstanceso ando allo factorso relevanto theretoo ando aftero givingo myo veryo carefulo consideration,o Io wouldo likeo too recommendo thato theo Stateo Government/Uniono Governmento shouldo nowo payo ano additionalo amountoofoRs.o20.00olakhsooveroandoaboveotheoamountoalreadyopaido tootheoclaimantsoquaoeachoofo31odeathsodetailedoatoserialoNoo1otoo31o inotheoTableogivenoinoparao72oonopageso146otoo148oofothisoreporto However,oaosumoofoRs.o25.00olakhsoshouldobeopaidotootheowidowoofo theoloneoarmyomanoInderjitoSinghodeceasedoshownoatoserialoNo.32o inotheoTableoinoparao72oonopageo148oofothisoreportoasosheohasonoto beeno paido anyo amounto whatsoevero byo wayo ofo compensationo tillo date.oThisoshould,oinomyoopinion,osufficeosoofaroasoanyoadditionalo Reliefothatomayobeorecommendedoandothatohasobeenofoundotoobeo "sufficient"o "Justo ando reasonable"o compensationo too beo recommendedo quao 32o deathso aso referredo too aboveo Ino caseo anyo decisiono iso takeno aso regardso theo acceptanceo ofo thiso particularo recommendationomadeobyotheoCommissionobyotheoauthorities,oanyo additionalo amounto soo giveno mayo beo apportionedo ino theo shareso definedoagainstoeachoofotheonextoofokins/legaloheirsoofotheodeceasedo shownoinotheoTableoofoparaoNo.72oonopageoNo.146otoo148oofothiso reportoabove."o k o o Heo furthero contendso thato determinationo ofo justo compensationo iso w.e.f.otheodateooforecommendationoandothatoonceotheoex-gratiaocompensationohaso beenograntedotoo theopetitionerso aso perotheo statementso madeo byo theiro counselo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-30-o 2023:PHHC:143786o beforeotheoCommission,oitowouldonotobeoopenotootheopetitionersotoowriggleooutoofo theo saido statements.o Moreover,o ito iso noto theo caseo ofo theo petitionerso thato theo statemento madeo byo theiro counselo beforeo theo Commissiono waso withouto theiro authorizationooroconsent.oHence,ohavingogivenotheiroconsentoandohavingoagreedo tootheoabovesaidoamountoandohavingoavailedotheosame,oitowouldobeouncalledoforo atothisojunctureotooreopenowhatohasoalreadyobeenofinalizedoamongstotheopartieso andothatotooowithotheiroownofreeoconsent.oo o o Ito iso arguedo thato theo compensationo assessedo ino theo mattero ofo DabwalioFireoTragedyo(supra)owasowithoutotheoconsentoofotheopartiesoandotheo factumoofodelayohadoalsoonotobeenotakenointooconsiderationowhileocomputingotheo compensation.oHence,otheocompensatoryointerestowasograntedobyotheoDivisiono BenchoofothisoCourtoinoitsoaboveomentionedojudgment.oHowever,oinotheopresento case,otheodelayoinoconsideringotheoclaimsohasoalreadyobeenofactoredoinobyotheo Commissiono whileo recommendingo theo abovesaido compensation,o ando theo compensationodisbursedoearlierohadoalsoobeenoconsideredobeforeoarrivingoatowhato wouldobeotheojust,osufficientoandoreasonableocompensation.oo o o AofurtheroreferenceoisomadeotootheojudgmentoofothisoCourtoinoCWP-25029oofo2017o(supra)owhereinosimilaroprayeroforograntoofointerestoonoaccountoofo lossoagainstotheopropertyowasonotoacceptedobyothisoCourtoandotheosaidoorderoofo dismissalowasoalsooupheldobyotheoDivisionoBenchoinoLPAopreferredoagainstotheo judgmentopassedoinoCWP-25029-2017.oo o o Counselo foro theo respondent-Uniono ofo Indiao haso reiteratedo theo submissionsonoticedoaboveoandohasosubmittedothatotheorehabilitationopolicyohaso alreadyocomeotooanoendoandothatonooclaimsocanobeoentertainedothereafter.oo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-31-o 2023:PHHC:143786o o o Respondingotootheoabovesaidoarguments,olearnedocounseloforotheo petitionersohasosubmittedothatotheointerestowasonotoawardedoinotheoabovesaido CWP-25029o ofo 2017o (supra)o sinceo noo sucho interesto hado beeno awardedo ino relationotootheoclaimopertainingotoolossoofolife.oHeothusocontendsothatotheodenialo ofo interesto againsto theo claimo towardso losso ofo propertyo thuso shouldo noto beo construedo aso disentitlingo theo petitionerso fromo claimingo interesto ono theo compensationoawardedoagainstolossoofolife.oo o o Ono ao pointedo query,o heo fairlyo concedeso thato theo compensationo recommendedobyotheoCommissionohasoalreadyobeenodisbursedotootheopetitioners.o ItoisofurtherofairlyoconcedesothatotheojudgmentoinotheomatteroofoDabwalioFireo TragedyoAssociationo(supra)owasonotobasedouponoanyoconsentoofotheoclaimsoando heoalsoodoesonotodisputeotheostatementomadeoonobehalfoofotheopetitionersobyotheiro counselobeforeotheoCommission.oItoisoalsoonotodisputedobyohimothatoevenothougho thereowereo32odeaths,ohowever,otheosaidodeathsoareolargelyoconfinedotootheosameo familiesoandotheobeneficiariesohappenedotoobeoAmarjeetoSingh,oSurjeetoKaur,o SurjitoKaur,oBalwantoSinghoandoGuddioDevioinorelationotooasomanyoaso29oclaims.o TheodetailsothereofohaveobeenogivenoinoparagraphoNo.72oofotheoreportowhichoiso extractedoasounder:o-o Sr.o Nameoofo Caseo Name/Namesoofo Shareoofotheo No. deceased. No. claimantso&otheiro additionaloamountoo o relationshipowitho ofocompensationotoo theodeceased beoapportionedo betweenoeachoofo theoclaimantsoifo awardedoatoanyo time.oo

1.k o GyanoSingho 44-HCCo AmarjitoSingho ?oshareo o (Sister'soson)o o o o ?oshareo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-32-o 2023:PHHC:143786o 62-HCCo SurjeetoKauro o (Brother'so Daughter)o

2.k o Amindero @o 45-HCCo AmarjitoSingho ?oshareo JoginderoKauro (Sister'soson)o o o o o SurjeetoKauro ?oshareo 55-HCC (Brother'so o Daughter)o

3.k o SunitaoDevio 47-HCCo AmarjitoSingho ?oshareo (Sister'soson)o o o o o SurjeetoKauro ?oshareo 59-HCC (Brother'so o Daughter)o

4.k o Mahindero 49-HCCo AmarjitoSingho ?oshareo Singho (Sister'soson)o o o o o SurjeetoKauro ?oshareo 61-HCC (Brother'so o Daughter)o AmarjitoSingho5.k o JamnaoBaio 50-HCCo ?oshareo (Daughter'soson)o o o o o SurjeetoKauro ?oshareo 60-HCC (GrandoDaughter)o o

6.k o JasbiroKauro 51-HCCo AmarjitoSingho ?oshareo (Sister'soson)o o 58-HCC o o SurjeetoKauro ?oshareo (Brother'so o Daughter)o

7.k o Gurdiyalo 52-HCCo AmarjitoSingho ?oshareo Singho (GrandoDaughter)o o oo oAmarjitoSingho ?oshareo46-HCC (Daughter'soson)oo o

8.k o PritamoKauro 53-HCC SurjitoKauroo FulloShareo (Daughter)o

9.k o ArjunoSingho 54-HCC SurjitoKauroo FulloShareo (Daughter)oo

10.ko Gurcharano 56-HCCo SurjitoKauro ?oshareo Singho (Brother'so o o Daughter)o o o ?oshareo48-HCC AmarjitoSingho o(Sister'soson)oo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-33-o 2023:PHHC:143786o

11.ko JasbiroSingho 57-HCC SurjitoKauroo FulloShareo (Sister)oo

12.ko SatbiroSingho 63-HCC SurjitoKauroo FulloShareo (Sister)oo

13.ko KrishnaoDevio 64-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo (Husband'so brother)o

14.ko Tarawantio 65-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo (Brother)o

15.ko KartaroSingho 66-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo

(Son)o

16.ko DhanioBaio 67-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo

(Son)o

17.ko Bhagwano 68-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo Singho (Brother)o

18.ko GulaboSingho 69-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo (GrandoSon)o

19.ko Veenao 70-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo (Brother)o

20.ko Manoharo 71-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo Singho (Father'soBrother)o BalwantoSingho FulloShareo21.ko Chanchalo 72-HCC Singho (Father'soBrother)o

22.ko SunderoSingho 73-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo (Father'soBrother)o

23.ko InderoSingho 74-HCC BalwantoSingho FulloShareo (Father'soBrother)o

24.ko SardaroSingho 38-HCC GuddioDevio FulloShareo (Daughter)o

25.ko Harbhajano 39-HCC GuddioDevio FulloShareo Singho (Sister)o

26.ko Dayawantio 40-HCC GuddioDvio FulloShareo (Brother'soWife)o

27.ko VeeraoDevio 41-HCC GuddioDevio FulloShareo (Sister)o

28.ko SurjeetoKauro 42-HCC GuddioDevio FulloShareo (Sister)o

29.ko DhanoSingho 32-HCC GuddioDevio FulloShareo (Sister)o o o o o o Ito iso alsoo noto disputedo thato theo petitionerso hado theo alternativeo remedyoofopreferringoaoclaimopetitionobeforeoaocompetentoForumoandothatotheyo haveoneveropreferredoanyosuchopetitionoclaimingodamagesoandoinsteadopreferredo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-34-o 2023:PHHC:143786o o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorespectiveopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheodocumentsoandorecordoavailableoonocaseofileoincludingotheo reportoofotheoCommissionowithotheiroableoassistance.o o o WhileoadvertingotootheoobjectionsoraisedobyotheocounseloforoUniono ofoIndiaothatotheorehabilitationopolicy/schemeohasoalreadyocomeotooanoendoino Decembero2012,oIofindothatotheosaidoobjectionoisonototenable.oTheolanguageoofo theocommunicationoclearlyoreflectsothatotheoschemeohasobeenoclosedoagainstotheo entertainmentoofoanyonewoapplicationoforoseekingoclaim.oTheoclaimsothatohave/o hadoalreadyobeenoraisedoandoareopendingoforofinalizationobeforeoaoCourtoofolawo oroareosubjectomatteroofochallengeobeforeoanyohigheroCourt/Forumocannotobeo termedoasofreshoclaims.oHence,otheoobjectionoraisedobyotheorespondent-Unionoofo Indiaoisobasedouponomisreadingoofotheocommunication.oOnceotheoUnionoofoIndiao hasoacknowledgedothatoitohasoreimbursedotheocompensationodisbursedobyotheo StateoGovernmentoonotheobasisooforecommendationsoofotheoCommission,oanyo furtheroproceedingsooroclaimoarisingoonoaccountothereofowouldoalsoobeopartoando parcelo ofo theo saido scheme.o Theo respondent-Uniono ofo Indiao cannoto denyo itso liabilityounderotheogarbooforehabilitationoschemeohavingobeenoclosed.oo o o Havingoheldoso,otheoquestionowhichoarisesonextoforoconsiderationo beforeo thiso Courto iso too determineo aso too whethero theo ex-gratiao compensationo recommendedobyotheoCommissionoandoacceptedobyotheoStateoGovernmentoiso just,ofair,oreasonableoandosufficientooronot?oo o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasoevenothoughoarguedothato determinationoofocompensationooughtotoohaveobeenoonotheobasisoofoaouniformo criterionoandoapplyingotheoprinciplesoofoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o1988oinsteadoofoanyo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-35-o 2023:PHHC:143786o lumpo sumo amount.o I,o however,o doo noto findo myselfo ino agreemento witho theo submissiono advancedo byo theo learnedo counselo foro theo petitioners.o Theo Commissionohadomadeotheorecommendations,owhichowereoinotheonatureoofoano ex-gratiaofinancialoassistanceotoobeogivenotootheovictimsoandowasonotodevisedoasoao mechanismoforodeterminationoofotheodisputedoissues.oItohasobeenoclaimedobyotheo petitionersothemselvesothatoaolargeonumberoofovictimsowereominorochildrenoando womenoorotheooldoagedopersons.oNotwithstandingothatotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o 1988o waso notifiedo ato ao mucho latero pointo ofo timeo thano theo dateo ofo incident,o however,oevenoifoassumingotheosameoforotheosakeoofoarguments,otheosaidocriteriao wouldohaveobeenofollowed,oitowouldohaveoinvariablyoassessedotheocompensationo atoaomucholowerolevel.oThereoisonoopleadingoraisedobyotheopetitionersoeithero beforeotheoCommissionoorobeforeothisoCourtotoodemonstrateotheoprejudiceothato mayo haveo occasionedo ando too reflecto aso too howo ando ino whato mannero theo compensation,o ifo assessedo byo applyingo theo formulao ofo Motoro Vehicleso Act,o 1988,o wouldo haveo beeno moreo beneficial.o Determinationo ofo anyo sucho compensationowouldohaveorequiredotheopetitionersotoohaveofirstoraisedoaodemando aboutodeterminationoofocompensationoonothatopatternoandoleadingoevidenceotoo showotheoincomeotoobeoassessedoseparatelyoforowomen,ochildrenoandoold,otheiro age,otheirodependencyoasowelloasotheomultiplicationofactor.oHavingonotoraisedo suchoaodemandooroissue,oitomustobeopresumedothatotheopetitionersoconsideredoallo optionsoandohadoagreedoforowhatowasoassessedobestobyothemoespeciallyowheno thereowasonoooccasionoofoanyoduressoatotheotimeoofotheirogivingoconsent.oHavingo exercisedoaochoiceoandooptedoforobest,otheopetitionersogetoboundobyoit.oBesides,o thereoisonooevidenceobroughtoonorecordobyotheopetitioneroevenobeforeothisoCourto CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-36-o 2023:PHHC:143786o oro beforeo theo Commissiono aso waso crucialo foro determiningo theo income,o theo dependencyoandotheomultiplier,owhichoareotheobasicsoforodeterminationoofotheo compensation.o Theo argumento advancedo too revisito theo methodologyo foro computationoofocompensationoisothusodevoidoofoanyomeritooroobjectivityoando evenofailsotooshowothatotheopetitionersohaveobeenoprejudicedoinoanyomannerobyo notoadoptingotheoformulaounderotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o1988.oTheoargumento thusostandsolargelyoconjecturaloandoonotheobasisoofoaopresumptionothatoifotheosaido formulaowouldohaveobeenoadopted,otheopetitionersowouldohaveobeenobenefitedo more.oo o o Testingo further,o theo aspecto witho regardo too determinationo ofo compensationo througho theo aboveo modeo aso suggestedo wouldo haveo raisedo numerousoissuesoregardingotheofreezing/fixationoofovariousofactorsowhichocouldo notohaveobeenodoneowithoutoleadingoevidence.oSuchoanoexerciseocanoonlyobeo doneobyoaotrialoCourtoandotheoissuesoaboutoadmissibilityoofoevidenceoetc.owereo nototheotermsooforeferenceoofotheoCommission.oTheotermsoofoinquiryoprescribedo fororecommendingomeasuresotoobeoadoptedotoomeetotheoendsoofojusticeoorotoo considerosuchomattersoasomayobeofoundorelevantoinotheoabovesaidoinquiry.oTheo recommendationso haveo beeno madeo undero Term-IIIo whicho empoweredo theo Commissionotoorecommendomeasuresotoomeetoendsoofojustice.oTheoclaimantso wereoalwaysoatolibertyotoopursueotheiroclaimsobeforeoaocompetentoCourtoinoao manneroknownotoolawoandosubjectotootheoapplicabilityoofotheorelevantostatutes,o however,o theyo preferredo noto too opto foro filingo anyo petitiono foro claimingo ando seekingo determinationo ofo theo compensationo ando establishingo theo loss.o Theo petitionersohavingosubjectedothemselvesotootheoabovesaidojurisdictionoandohavingo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-37-o 2023:PHHC:143786o consentedo too ao compensationo ofo Rs.25,00,000/-o too beo just,o sufficiento ando equitable,owouldobeoboundobyotheiroownostatement.oTheopetitionersohavingonoto disputedotheirostatementotoobeowithoutotheiroauthorizationooroconsentowouldonowo beo estoppedo fromo wrigglingo outo ofo theo impacto ando consequenceso ofo sucho statement,o moreo soo wheno theo saido statemento haso beeno acceptedo byo theo Commissiono ando ano ex-gratiao financialo assistance/granto aso just,o fairo ando equitableo compensationo haso beeno recommendedo thereupon.o Theo aboveo recommendationso haveo thereaftero beeno acceptedo byo theo Stateo ando theo compensation/grant/financialoassistanceowasodisbursedoaccordingly.oHence,otheo respondentsohaveonotoonlyoactedouponotheostatementomadeobyotheocounseloforotheo petitionersobutohaveoalsoodischargedotheiroobligationoandoalteredotheiropositionoaso perorecommendationomadeobyotheoCommissionoinoaccordanceowithotheostatemento madeo byo theo counselo foro theo petitioners.o Ao unilateralo withdrawalo ofo sucho ao statemento ato anyo latero stage,o aftero havingo availedo theo compensationo wouldo amountotooretracting,owhichomayohaveobeenopermissibleoinolawoonlyoinocertaino exceptionalo circumstanceso sucho aso pressure,o coercion,o threato and/oro undueo influence.o Noo suchocircumstancesohaveobeeno pleadedotoo existo ino theo presento cases.o Hence,o theo consento quao recordingo theo statemento ono behalfo ofo theo petitionersowasovoluntaryoandowithoutoanyopressure,ocoercionooroundueoinfluenceo inoanyomannerowhatsoever.oo o o Further,o principleo ofo waivero ando acquiescenceo wouldo alsoo beo attractedoandohavingowaivedotheoclaimobeyondotheoamountoreferredotooabove,oito wouldonotobeoopenoforotheopetitionersotoore-agitateoandore-claimowhatohasobeeno waivedooff.oTheoabovesaidoprincipleoofolawowouldoapplyotootheofactsoofotheo CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-38-o 2023:PHHC:143786o presentocaseocarvingooutoaodistinctionofromotheocaseoofoDabwalioFireoTragedyo (supra)oreliedouponobyotheocounseloforotheopetitioners.oo o o Further,o ito iso reflectedo fromo theo writteno statemento filedo byo theo respondentsothatotheocompensationoinootherosuchosimilarocircumstancesoandoino casesoarisingooutoofotheoriotsoofo1984ofromodifferentoHighoCourtsoofotheocountryo variedo fromo Rs.1,00,000/-o too Rs.7,50,000/-.o Eveno ifo interesto ono theo aboveo amountsoisoworkedoouto@o8%operoannumofromo1984,otheosameowouldobeoRs.3.20o lakhsoandoRs.24olakhs.oIfoaverageoofotheohighestoandolowestoamountoisotakenoasoao baseocompensation,otheosameowouldoworkooutotooRs.4,25,000/-oandointerestoforo 40oyearso@o8%operoannumoonotheoaboveoamountowouldobeoatoRs.13,60,000/-,o takingotheototaloamountotooRs.17,85,000/-.oHence,oevenoifotheocontemporaneouso compensationoisoexaminedoandotheoensuingointerestothereuponoisotoobeofactoredo inobyoapplyingoaomean,otheoamountoofocompensation/financialoassistanceowouldo beomoreoorolessoequalotootheocompensationothatohasobeenorecommendedobyotheo Commissiono itself.o Ito cannot,o thus,o beo outrightlyo saido thato theo compensationo recommendedobyotheoCommissionoandoeventuallyoawardedobyotheoStateowaso unjust,oinadequateoorounreasonable.oo o o Whileoadvertingotootheoissueowithoregardotoointerestoonotheoamounto awardedofromotheodateoofoconstitutionoofotheoCommission,oIofindothatotheosaido submissionoisomisconceived.oAoperusaloofotheoreportoofotheoCommissionofromo paragraphoNo.74oonwardsoclearlyoshowsothatotheoCommissionohasotakenointoo considerationotheopriceoindexoasowelloasodevaluationooforupeeosinceotheoyearo 1984-85oandohasoalsooconsideredotheominimumoamountoofointerestoprevalento fromotheotimeoonwardsotillodateowhileodeterminingotoowhatoshouldobeojustoando CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-39-o 2023:PHHC:143786o propero compensation.o Ito haso alsoo beeno noticedo earliero pronouncementso ando principleso abouto determinationo ofo compensationo ando thato whato shouldo beo deemedo aso justo ando reasonable.o Theo elemento ofo interesto ino compensationo iso usuallyocompensatoryotoomakeoupoforotheodevaluationoofotheorupeeoandoitsolacko ofopurchasingopowerofromotheodateowhenotheoamountofellodueoandotillosuchotimeo thatoitoisodisbursed.oOnceosuchofactorsoincludingotheopricingoindex,otheorateoofo interesto etc.o haveo beeno takeno intoo considerationo whileo awardingo compensation/ex-gratiao financialo assistanceo anyo furthero additiono ofo interesto wouldoamountotoogivingoaodoubleobenefitoandoawardoofosuchointerestocanonoo moreobeotermedoasocompensatoryointerest.oTheoCommission,oafteronoticingoallo theseoaspectsoandohavingorecordedotheoconsentoofotheopetitioners,ohadomadeotheo recommendationsoasoperotheodemando madeobyotheopetitioners.oItowasothusoao decisionomadeobyotheopetitionersothemselvesoandohavingofeltosatisfiedoaboutoao particularoamountoofomoney,otheopetitionersocannotolaterobeopermittedotoocontendo thatotheoamountoreleasedotoothem,oonotheirodemand,owasounjust,oinsufficientooro unreasonable.oIoamofurtherostrengthenedobyotheojudgmentoofotheoSingleoBenchoino theomatteroofoHarbhajanoSingho(supra)owhereinotheoissueoofointerestoonotheo awardo waso raisedo byo theo petitionerso buto theo sameo waso declined.o Theo saido judgmentowasoaffirmedobyotheoDivisionoBenchoalso.oIrrespectiveoofotheoreasonso thatomayohaveoweighedowithotheosaidoBenchobyonotoawardingoanointerest,otheo issueo remainso thato theo questiono waso arguedo ando waso declinedo ando theo saido judgmentohasobeenoaffirmedobyoaoDivisionoBench.oAnyoawardoofointerestoatothiso junctureowouldoamountotooreopeningotheoentireocontroversyoafteromuchodelayo andonotwithstandingotheoclaimohavingobeenoconsideredowithoutosuccessoearlier.o CWP-17922-2017o(O&M)o?o13ocasesooooooooooooo-40-o 2023:PHHC:143786o Theocalculationoofotheocontemporaneousocompensationoalongwithointeresto@o8%o peroannumoshowsothatotheoamountowouldoworkooutotoolessothanooroequalotootheo amountoofocompensationoalreadyoawarded.ooTheosameocannotothusobeoheldotoobeo meagerooroaopittanceounderoanyoofotheosaidoparametersoasowell.o o o Forotheoforegoingoreasonsoandoconsideringotheorecommendationso madeobyotheoCommissionoasowelloasotheostatementomadeobyotheocounseloforotheo petitionersobeforeotheoCommissionoasoalsootheocompensation/financialoassistanceo grantedobyotheodifferentoHighoCourtsoinotheoincidentsopertainingotootheoriotsoato theosameotime,oIoamounableotooholdothatotheorecommendationsomadeobyotheo CommissionograntingotheocompensationoreferotooinoParagraphoNo.125othereofoiso unjust,o unreasonableo oro insufficient.o Theo awardo iso thuso affirmedo ando upheldo findingonoovalidogroundsotoointerfereoinotheosaidorecommendation.o o o Theopresentopetitionsoareoaccordinglyodismissed.o o o o o o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o

07.11.2023.oo o o o o oooo ooooooo oooooJUDGEo rajendero o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :oYes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o :oYes/Noo o