SC dismisses petition,tells state to compensate five wrongly accused of murder

A division bench comprising Justice B Sudershan Reddy and Justice Deepak Verma of the SC dismissed the appeal of Punjab state and also expressed its strong disapproval for filing an appeal rather than compensating the innocent persons. The Bench orally expressed its concern on the plight of Nachhatar Singh and others,who had to remain behind bars for five years on charges of murdering a person who was alive.

The compensation was awarded by a division bench comprising Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Jitendra Chauhan of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Bench had directed the state to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the five accused. Rather than paying the amount,the states had filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the High Court. Significantly,the law officer appearing for Punjab State had given an undertaking to the High Court that the amount of Rs 1 crore will be deposited in the High Court Registry by December 16,irrespective of the fate of the SLP. However,the state had requested the High Court not to disburse the amount till the SLP is decided. The High Court had allowed the request of the Punjab law officer but had made it clear that if the Punjab State fails to obtain stay on the High Court orders,the Chief Secretary,Punjab will have to face the music.

“It is a welcome order. We have suffered a lot. I hope the Punjab government pays the compensation so that it can be of some respite for us,” said a happy Nachhatar Singh.