HC questions state on relief, job offer to Moga victim’s kin

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

Just about a month after a 13-year-old girl died after her alleged molesters threw her off a bus owned by Orbit Aviation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the State of Punjab to explain whether the compensation to the victim’s family was paid by the state or the transport company. The State was also questioned on the assurance of job to the victim’s family.

As the case came up for resumed hearing this morning, the Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Lisa Gill referred to reports on assurance by the state government to compensate the family and offer a job.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Hemant Gupta asked state Advocate-General Ashok Aggarwal to elaborate on the source of compensation and on job assurance. Responding to the query, Aggarwal read out excerpts from an affidavit filed by Moga Senior Superintendent of police in a related case. Aggarwal said an ex gratia amount of Rs 24 lakh has been disbursed to the family after receiving the amount from Orbit Aviation.

In addition, Rs 3.75 lakh and Rs 1.8 lakh has been given on directions from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. A total of Rs 29.55 lakh has been disbursed to the family till date. Taking a note of the assertion, the Bench fixed July 30 as the next date of hearing in the matter. The State, on that date, has been asked to file an affidavit on the issue.

In the related petition for CBI probe into the matter filed by advocate Jasdeep Singh Bains in person, Moga SSP added that a notification has been issued on May 8 constituting a committee headed by Punjab and Haryana High Court’s former judge, Justice Ashutosh Mohunta, to study and recommend measures on passengers’ safety in public transport with specific reference to women and children.

Another notification has also been issued, appointing a commission headed by retired Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Justice VK Bali, to probe the Moga incident. It added that the petitioner has no cause of action to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of court.

Denying allegations of such incidents being rampant in the State of Punjab, he said an FIR in the matter was registered and all accused arrested within 24 hours. Claiming transparent investigation, he added an application for test identification parade was filed on May 7 as the complainant and victim’s mother Shinder Kaur was discharged from the hospital on that day.

The application was dismissed by the court as the accused had refused the identification parade. Special treatment had not been given to any person and investigation was being taken to its logical conclusion.