Delhi Riots: HC Issues Notice to Delhi Govt and Centre on Plea for More Compensation to Victims

New Delhi, 20 Jan 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the central and Delhi governments on a plea for hike in compensation to victims of riots in north-east Delhi in February 2020.

Justice Prathiba M Singh directed the Centre and AAP government to file their responses within four weeks on a petition by the riot victims to demand that interim relief to them be increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.

The Arvind Kejriwal government had promised to give compensation up to Rs ten lakh in cases of death, Rs five lakh for permanent incapacitation, Rs two lakh for serious injuries, Rs 20,000 for minor injuries, and Rs 5,000 for loss of animals.

The city government had also promised Rs five lakh for complete damage to residential units, Rs 2.5 lakh in case of substantial damage and Rs five lakh in case of uninsured commercial units.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on April 9.

India’s national capital saw its worst Hindu-Muslim violence in seven decades in February, with two and a half days of rioting leaving at least 53 dead, many more injured and thousands affected. Majority of those killed and displaced were Muslims.

In the frenzy of sectarianism, miscreants had also desecrated many places of worship, set them on fire and chanted provocative slogans.

— IANS (inputs added)