Bengaluru, Jul 20: The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday stayed contempt proceedings initiated against the Home Ministry and the state Home department with regard to the compensation to be paid to Leesha, one of the victims of the Malleswaram bomb blast of April 2013.
In a writ appeal filed by the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, a division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar directed the co-ordinate bench hearing the contempt matter not to proceed with the contempt matter during the pendency of the application for condonation of delay in filing the writ appeal.
Leesha, the blast victim had sought for Rs 1 crore compensation towards the injuries caused to her due to the blast. She had contended that she has spent lakhs of rupees on multiple surgeries on her leg and is still unable to walk on her own. A single judge bench had directed the state and the Central governments to consider her request as a rare case.
The appellant contended that compensation sought by the blast victim is very high. Giving any special consideration to any individual victim would set a bad precedent, which is against the Central scheme for assistance to “Civilian Victims/Family of Victims of Terrorist/Communal/LWE (left wing extremism) violence, cross border firing and mine/LED blasts on Indian territory.” The said scheme was revised about a year ago on August 24, 2016 wherein the compensation amount was enhanced to Rs 5 lakh, which would be given for each death or permanent incapacitation to the affected family under the scheme for the incidents that have occurred after August 24, 2016.
The appellant has sought for quashing of the single judge bench order. The division bench ordered notice to Leesha and secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and, adjourned the hearing.
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