New Delhi:The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response of Delhi government on a plea by parents of two children, who lost their lives during the communal violence in northeast Delhi last year, challenging an assistance scheme to help the riot victims as it provides inadequate compensation for the death of minors.
Justice Prathiba M Singh issued notice to the Delhi government and sub-divisional magistrate of Seelampur on the petition, which has also been filed on behalf of CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat, who has also been instrumental in securing scholarships for some of such victims of the North East Delhi violence.
The high court asked the authorities to file their replies within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on April 26.
Read:|18 accused under UAPA act for North-East Delhi riots
While petitioners Ram Sugarat is the father of a 15-year-old boy, who died after being hit by a tear-gas shell on February 26 last year in the Gokulpuri area, Rihana Khatoon is the mother of a 17-year-old boy who lost his life due to a gunshot injury on his head on February 25, 2020, near Jafrabad metro station.
Both the victims were school-going children and had gone to the nearby market to buy household items when the incidents took place.
Advocate Karuna Nandy, representing the petitioners, submitted that fixing the maximum compensation of Rs five lakh for the death of a minor during riots while the families of adult victims receive Rs 10 lakh compensation is arbitrary and unreasonable.
The compelling state interest in awarding compensation to riot victims and their families is to provide relief and rehabilitation, from the loss suffered. When it comes to the families of deceased riot victims, compensation must be such that it is somewhat commensurate to the actual damage suffered. Particularly in the case of deceased minors, such damage goes beyond just the loss of income of the deceased family member, the petition, filed through advocates Ragini Nagpal, Abhay Chitravanshi and Utsav Mukherjee, said.