The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response from the Centre, Delhi government and others on a petition filed by one of Delhi riots victim seeking compensation of worth Rs. 5 lakhs.
A single judge bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh issued notice to Deputy Commissioner and Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the North East district over the petition filed by Sayeed Ahmed Khan and scheduled the matter for further hearing with the batch of matters with similar prayers on April 26.
The petitioner sought a total compensation of Rs. 5 lakh as his rented shop was destroyed, burnt and looted during violence in Shiv Vihar on February 24 last year.
“As per the Delhi Government’s Assistance Scheme for the Help of Delhi Riot Victims formulated by the Delhi Government, the Petitioner qualifies for Rs. 5 lakh as permanent compensation and Rs. 50,000 as interim compensation. The scheme mandates Rs. 5 lakh in total to be given for uninsured commercial units,” the plea said.
“Through compensation, the government tries to rectify its mistakes and makes an honest effort to put the victims of violence back to their previous positions, as they would have been before the violence. Thus, the compensation must be holistic and aware of the reality of the victims and their families in the present times,”
-the plea claimed.
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The petition filed through Advocates Kawalpreet Kaur, Haider Ali and Hetvi Patel further stated that the respondent authorities instead of being sensitive towards the need and rehabilitation of the Petitioner appears to be perpetuating more grief and distress among them.
According to the plea, on February 25 last year, petitioner Khan received a call from his friend, Arvind who lives opposite to his shop who informed him that his shop at Shiv Vihar was burnt and looted by a mob at Shiv Vihar.
“Khan was also asked by his friend not to come to Shiv Vihar as the area at that time was dangerous for Muslim community,” the plea said while adding that the houses and shops of Muslims at Shiv Vihar were being targeted by the mobs who were openly violating the law and order.
The plea also sought court’s direction to DC and SDM of North East district to pay Rs. 50,000 out of Rs. 5,00,000/- as an Interim compensation.
“In view of the delay on part of Respondents in payment of compensation direct them to pay such additional compensation as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and appropriate towards compensation for the loss suffered by the Petitioner,”
-the plea prayed.
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The petitioner has also sought court’s direction to the Delhi government to modify the present Government Assistance Scheme for the Delhi Riot Victims and to take into consideration the looting, theft and vandalism of residential and commercial places during the riot.
Clashes between of pro- and anti-CAA protesters in Jafrabad on February 23 night turned into communal violence and spread across northeast Delhi over the next four days. 53 people lost their lives, while hundreds were injured and shops and houses burnt or destroyed. Delhi Police faced criticism for ineffective handling of the riots. Hundreds of people have been arrested or detained so far in connection with the violence.