Kishtwar violence: SC questions different compensation for riot victims

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today took strong note of an order of Jammu and Kashmir government which provides for differential compensations to the people from the state and outsiders who are victims of riots or other similar incidents. “You (J&K govt) file a detailed affidavit. You cannot be justified, if you are giving more to somebody and less to somebody else,” a bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and Ranjan Gogoi said. [caption id=“attachment_1061611” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  This image of the Indian Army has been used for representational purposes only. AFP. [/caption] The court’s observation came during the hearing of a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir to provide adequate security and safe passage to the pilgrims stranded due to curfew in Kishtwar where communal clashes took place on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Senior advocate Bhim Singh, appearing for Sudesh Dogra of J&K National Panthers Party who has filed the PIL, cited a government order of 1990 and said this is discriminatory as “the next of kin of personnel of paramilitary forces, if he is permanent resident of J&K, is sanctioned Rs five lakh (in case of death), whereas for other personnel of paramilitary forces only Rs 2 lakh is sanctioned if they are an Indian citizen.” “It also differentiates between the life of a policemen and ex-servicemen/SPO as well as a magistrate. This makes a mockery of justice that on the death of a policeman Rs five lakh is paid to to the next of kin whereas in case of a policeman working as SPO/ex-serviceman or a Magistrate who dies in similar circumstances Rs 2 lakh is paid only,” he said. It is “highly objectionable” to mention the permanent residents of the state as ‘state subject’,he said, adding “Jammu and Kashmir is one of the provinces of Union of India and its residents are no more the ‘state subjects’. This shows the apathy on the part of the Govt. of J&K,” he said. Taking note of pleas, the bench asked the state government to file an affidavit on the issue within two weeks and fixed the case for hearing on September 9. Earlier, the Chief Secretary of the state filed an affidavit in pursuance of an order and had said that adequate number of police personnel were deployed in Kishtwar district to maintain law and order following communal clashes there. Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey, in the affidavit, said a Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by a former High Court judge, would be set up soon to probe the incidents. He had further said an amount of Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the communal clashes. The bureaucrat had said a special investigating team has been constituted to probe 15 cases registered so far in connection with the riots. The PIL is seeking directions to the government to provide safe passage, food and medical facilities to the stranded pilgrims traveling back from Machil to Batote till their evacuation saying their survival is under threat. PTI