Above: Nambi Narayanan (file pic)
In the famous case of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan (now 76), who was falsely implicated and arrested on charges of espionage, came up before the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra on Wednesday (May 9). The scientist had been given the clean chit by the CBI, but being sacked from his job, his entire career had evaporated. He has been seeking compensation and has so far received only Rs 10 lakh of the Rs 1 crore he had demanded.
On Wednesday the top court said that it was inclined to order a re-investigation into how the scientist was framed by the police and fix accountability on and punish those responsible for the horrendous deed that finished off a good scientist.
Narayanan was arrested on November 30, 1994 and, when free of charges, he had filed an appeal against the judgment of a division bench of the Kerala High Court which had said no action needed to be taken against the former DGP and two retired Superintendents of Police, K K Joshua and S Vijayan who were responsible for this misdemeanour.
The CJI said that a substantial amount of compensation is to be decided and no disciplinary action would arise.
The NHRC owes an interim compensation of Rs 10 lakhs. The petitioner has lost his career completely. The reputation will be restored by nullifying the previous judgment and in lieu of the damages, Rs 10 lakhs will be paid, said the CJI.
He, however, suggested: “If we grant compensation, we cannot get into criminal proceedings.”
He ordered that an enquiry be held.
—India Legal Bureau