New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Friday said the AAP government’s decision to award compensation to the family members of two men who allegedly committed suicide at some public events here, will set a wrong precedent.
Advising the Delhi government to withdraw such decisions to accord “martyr” status to individuals, a bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar said “the money is of taxpayers”.
“Your order will set a wrong precedent for others. It can be cited as an example for others who do the same thing. Why don’t you withdraw it,” the bench said, adding “we are here to look after the rights of the citizens.”
Delhi government’s Additional Standing Counsel Sanjoy Ghose, however, told the court that till date they have not paid any compensation amount to any of the family members of the deceased.
He also sought time to file replies to the PILs filed by advocate Avadh Kaushik and ex-serviceman Puran Chand Arya. The court listed the matter for August 8 and directed the Delhi government to file its response within 10 days.
The court’s oral observation came during the hearing of PILs against the AAP government’s decision to accord martyr status to Ram Kishan Grewal who had allegedly committed suicide during a protest at Jantar Mantar over the OROP issue on November 1 last year.
