The Delhi High Court as asked for the status report from the North-East Delhi Riots Claims Commission (NEDRCC) office that was set up by the Delhi government in April 2020, about the complete details of the claims and the amounts that were disbursed.
Justice Pratibha M Singh directed the Secretary of the Claims Commission to place for putting on record the way by which processing the applications for claims was made and the compensation was awarded.
The Court has asked for a status report be placed on record within four weeks.
The court was hearing a batch of petitions which was filed by victims of the riots seeking compensation in accordance with Delhi Government’s Assistance Scheme for the Help of Riot Victims.
There were quite a few petitioners who sought for enhanced compensation.The assistance scheme was introduced by the Delhi Government to compensate and assist the victims of the riots. It provides for compensation for the death of a major or a minor, permanent incapacitation, serious or minor injuries and loss of property.
The petitioner counsel submitted that the office of the Claims Commission has conducted surveys in some of the cases and the amounts awarded are much below as fixed under Delhi government’s scheme.
Advocate Karuna Nundy who represented a petitioner said they are seeking enhanced compensation and are aggrieved about the grant of ex gratia compensation of total Rs. 5 lakhs for the two children who died during the riots.
She submitted that the compensation awarded is much lesser and an additional grant of Rs. 5 lakhs needs to be provided.On the other hand, Delhi government’s standing counsel Samir Vashisht submitted that the Claims Commission has been assessing the claims and that a status report can be called for complete details regarding progress of the applications so far.
Considering that the petitioners are persons with various financial constraints, Justice Singh observed that the Claims Commission ought to proceed expeditiously in the matters.The court observed that before proceeding to hear the petitions, it would be appropriate to call for the status report to ascertain what the Claims Commission has been doing with the applications received by the victims.
“I want to see what the commission is doing and then proceed to hear the matter,” the court said while listing the matter on April 28.