The Delhi High Court Monday asked the Northeast Delhi riots claims commission’s office to submit a status report on details of claims received and the amount, if any, disbursed. A single judge bench of Justice Prathiba Singh further asked the secretary general of the commission to submit before it the procedure followed by the commission in processing of claims and award of compensation. “Let this status report be placed on record by the secretary, Northeast Delhi riots claims commission, within four weeks. The Registrar General will intimate the secretary general of the commission of the order which has been passed today so that report is received by next date of hearing,” the HC directed, listing the matter on April 28. The high court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by riot victims seeking compensation. The compensation ranges from injuries, looting, fire, death including death caused to minors, and damage to property. Some pleas pertained to enhancement of the ex-gratia compensation which was awarded to certain petitioners. The court was told that certain surveys had been conducted by the office of the claims commission in some of the matters, and amounts fixed under the Delhi government's own scheme (Delhi government's assistance scheme for the help of riot victims) of March 5, 2020, are being awarded by the commission. Appearing for one of the petitioners, advocate Karuna Nundy submitted that the petitioner is seeking enhanced compensation and is aggrieved about the grant of ex-gratia compensation of total Rs 5 lakh for two minors who died during the riots. It was argued that this amount was much less and a minimum of additional Rs 5 lakh to be granted, adding that there was a constitutional challenge being raised. The Delhi government submitted that the claims commission had been enquiring into the claims and a status report can be called for complete details regarding progress of the applications so far. After hearing the parties, Justice Singh observed, “Considering these facts, and (that) petitioners are persons with various financial constraints and have suffered personal tragedies, the claims commission ought to proceed expeditiously in these matters.” Justice Singh further orally observed that before hearing the matters, it would be appropriate to call for a status report of the commission to see what has been done. The Indian Express had reported in August last year that Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved appointments of 40 more assessors to assist the commission, looking at the huge pendency of unsettled claims and relief to victims and also issued directions to expedite and clear all cases within three months, as per officials. Officials said the assessors are chartered accountants, from accounting firms mostly or lawyers. They assess damages claimed by victims and then submit the report to the claims commissioner for his recommendations to be sent to the High Court, officials added, The Indian Express had reported.
