Describing it as an extraordinary situation marked by atypical gravity and grief,the Delhi High Court on Wednesday enhanced to Rs 10 lakh the compensation to each to the families of those killed and also to those permanently disabled in the September 7 bomb blast outside the court. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed the Centre and the Delhi government to pay Rs 10 lakh as total ex-gratia to the victims of a catastrophe that had fallen on them as they approached the court in search of redressal of their grievances. Earlier,the Bench was told that next of kin of those killed in the terror attack were disbursed a compensation of Rs 6 lakh each Rs 4 lakh by Delhi government and Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Ministers Relief Fund. Those rendered permanently disabled were given Rs 3 lakh each. The court,however,noted that the quantum of compensation was not enough,considering the peculiar situation in the present case as it has happened at the doorstep of the temple of justice,and raised the amount. The court said it was not going into the technicality of computing compensation under any law,but was only concerned about passing an order that could ameliorate their pain. Centres counsel Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A S Chandhiok and standing counsel for Delhi government Najmi Waziri accepted the courts views and refrained from arguing on legal principles,contending they would accept the Benchs directives. The court has asked the government to disburse the enhanced compensation within three weeks. The ex-gratia of those grievously injured was also raised from Rs 2 lakh each to Rs 3 lakh. Those with minor injuries will receive Rs 20,000 each. The Bench also hailed Waziris submission that the Delhi government was committed to provide the best treatment to all the victims under the freeship quota in all the network hospitals. In addition,the Bench asked the Centre to consider providing education to the victims children,to which the ASG said they already had a proposal to help them getting education under a programme of the National Foundation for Communal Harmony. While disposing of the PIL filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal,the Bench also asked the Delhi government to consider offering jobs to the legal representatives of the victims.
