The Orissa High Court has directed the State Government to pay compensation to K Ramesh’s family in the case of his alleged custodial death in Puri town.
Hearing a petition filed by Puri-based lawyer Sarat Kumar Rayguru, a Division Bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Biswanath Rath on Monday directed Additional Government Advocate S Palit to obtain instruction from the Government as to what ex-gratia amount by way of interim compensation can be paid to the victim’s family pending a decision of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as to the final compensation. Palit was also asked to appraise the court about the progress in the matter and about the wellbeing of the victim’s family on the next date of hearing on December 1.
Palit appraised the court that the NHRC has already taken cognisance of the case and the Government has also ordered a judicial inquiry in the matter.
The petitioner’s counsel DK Mohapatra submitted that the whereabouts of the victim’s family members were not known.
The petitioner has sought a High Court-monitored probe into the matter and stringent action against the accused police officials.