HC notice to govt on plea alleging compensation scheme 'arbitrary'

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has now issued a notice to the Delhi government on a petition alleging that the current compensation scheme for victims of the north-east Delhi riots in February is "arbitrary and discriminatory". The plea sought that interim and full compensation be provided to the victims as soon as possible.

While issuing the notice, the single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla also directed the Delhi government to file a counter-affidavit in the matter within four weeks' time.

The petition was filed by Mohd Shahabaj and other victims sought appropriate compensation amounts for those whose homes and livelihoods had been destroyed by riotous mobs during the February riots.

The plea argued that these victims had left behind everything, including documentation in a bid to save their lives and that of their loved ones and that they needed immediate interim and full compensation against their claims.

"All their energy went in-to save and rescue themselves from the hands of the bloodthirsty mob, which was repeatedly calling for the blood of Muslims," it said.

The petitioners also argued that the Delhi government's scheme for compensating riots victims was not enough and had enough discrepancies in the disproportionate amounts released to some victims.

It said, "Delhi Government's Assistance scheme for the victims of communal violence is arbitrary and discriminatory. The amount of compensation is too little and inadequate when assessed on the basis of financial losses and trauma suffered by the victims of the communal violence.