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Why have you brought them here?
Oh well, you should know
WSN Network
 CHANDIGARH:
The judges tried to look towards them, but it was difficult for
them. "Why have you brought them all here?" one of the judges asked.
He should have known. These people had brought their faces to the
Punjab and Haryana High Court so that the judge can have a good look
at what the Indian justice dispensing system was doing to whom.
Survivors of the
December 1995 Dabwali fire tragedy last Monday filed into the court,
one by one, quitely, and sat on the front row chairs. Each face was
agony personified. Burnt and distorted faces looked askance at the
judicial system, asking it if it knew what delay meant and how it
was spelled. Their battle to get compensation seems to be
never-ending.
Over 10 victims,
including one on a wheelchair, thronged the courtroom of Chief
Justice T.S.
Thakur to
witness the hearing of their plea for enhanced compensation and to
"send a message across" about "our plight".
The presence of
the victims visibly moved the Bench, including Justice Kanwaljit
Singh Ahluwalia. "Why have you brought all of them here?" the Chief
Justice wanted to know from the counsel of the victims. "It is very
painful to see them here," he conceded.
Yes, it is
painful. So what should they do? Stay at home so that you can be
comfortable delaying cases? So that an apathetic governmebt can say
that law is taking its own course?
While the
counsel was arguing, the emotions of the victims were overflowing.
It was on
December 23, 1995, that 446 persons -- including several school
students -- died in a fire during the annual day function of DAV
school. The function was organised in Rajive Marriage Palace where
the "pandal" was made of synthetic material that fed the fire. There
was only one entry and exit door of the size of 10x12 feet.
The one-man
Justice T.P. Garg Commission finally determined compensation this
March ranging from Rs 44,000 to Rs 16 lakh to over 400 victims,
including 172 children, their teachers and parents.
The Commission
set up in January 2003 recommended compensation between Rs 2-16 lakh
to 88 persons who survived with serious burn injuries, resulting in
amputation of the limbs.
The victims are
demanding enhancement in compensation.
According to the
survivors, what they wanted to "pray" before the court was to "look
at us... we cannot take this legal battle any further".
Sixteen-year-old
Bobby Girdhar said he wanted to tell the Judges that "jitna jaldi ho
sake hame compensation mile".
Sakshi, 19, a
third-year student of Punjab Engineering College pursuing B.Tech in
Electronics, wanted to know "when this case will come to an end?"
Aware of the delay, the Chief Justice has been hearing this case
every day to give the final verdict. In order to ward off the
possibility of any party moving the Supreme Court, he later bounced
various propositions to the victims and the school management.
The Bench
indicated that it would be happy if both the sides could come out
with an offer acceptable to them on the issue of enhanced
compensation.
"This must end,"
the Chief Justice said.
Yes, it must. So
please end it. It is in your hands, My Lord.
12
August 2009
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