New Delhi: The petitioner in the Kandhamal riots case has filed a rejoinder in the Supreme Court seeking details of 2008 Kandhamal riots victims, who have been paid compensation by the state government.
Petitioner, Archbishop John Baruwa said details containing name and amount paid to the victim will enable him to verify whether the amount has actually been paid to the beneficiaries.
He also stated in the rejoinder that the state government had admitted in its affidavit filed in the apex court that it has paid additional compensation to the victims of 2008 riots only and not to the victims of 2007. He pleaded that 2007 riots victims also be compensated.
“The state now admits that the victims of the 2007 riots have not been paid compensation. But on the basis of strained reasoning that this Court’s order did not relate to the 2007 victims, non-payment is sought to be justified. There is nothing in this Court’s order that exclude the victims of the 2007 riots,” the petitioner stated in the rejoinder.
He further sought status report in respect to the 362 trials which are pending for around 10 years and also pleaded for the availability of records of proceedings of the 315 cases disposed off by the Lok Adalats. The Supreme Court will hear the matter March 5.
Earlier, the state government had filed an affidavit in the court mentioning that they are disbursing additional compensation to the victims. As many as 353 victims are yet to be paid additional compensation. State government also mentioned in the affidavit that the apex court order, dated August 2, 2016, relates to the Kandhamal riots that occurred in 2008 and does not relate to the violence which occurred in December 2007.
PNN
