Delhi HC orders Rs10 lakh compensation each to blast victims

The Centre and the city government were today asked by the Delhi High Court to pay Rs 10 lakh each as compensation to relatives of those killed in the September 7 blast outside the court.

The two governments were also asked by a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna to pay Rs10 lakh each to the permanently disabled blast victims.

"The situation in this case is different as it has happened at the doorstep of the temple of justice," the bench observed.

It asked the two governments to share the ex-gratia amount equally and disburse the same within three weeks.

The bench also directed a payment of Rs3 lakh each to people who suffered grievous injuries and Rs20,000 each to those who received minor injuries.

In addition, the court also asked the Centre to consider providing education to the victims' children and directed the Delhi government to provide jobs to eligible children of victims.

"It was a catastrophe that fell on persons on the way to reach court to get justice," the bench said, recalling the horror of the blast triggered near the court's reception counter. The blast left 15 people dead and over 70 injured.