Assam: Gauhati HC Directs Dispur to Release Pending Compensation Amounts by March 31

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Wednesday directed the chief secretary to the Government of Assam to adopt all measures to address the liability of long outstanding dues on account of the victim compensation scheme so that the outstanding amount can be released before March 31, 2025. Also, that  contempt of court proceedings would be drawn up against officials who do not abide by the order.

This was revealed by the petitioner Sandeep Chamaria, who had filed a public interest litigation case (PIL no. 7 / 2024) for release of pending amounts under the Victim Compensation Scheme 2012.

On Wednesday, a Division Bench led by Justice Kalyan Surana took up the PIL (Sandeep Chamaria versus State of Assam). The matter pertains to long outstanding dues remaining to be paid by the Assam government on account of the Victim Compensation Scheme 2012. Under the said scheme, the victims under different legal heads are entitled to get necessary compensation from the government as per the decision rendered by the respective judicial court.

The court observed that, surprisingly, from the year 2015, the victims compensation amount has not been released by the state government. Interestingly, in the year 2024, the requirement of the victim compensation fund was about Rs. 44 crore and after filing the aforementioned PIL by petitioner Chamaria, only Rs. 9 crore was released, and the rest of the due amount is still not being released on different excuses by the government.

Advocate Sandeep Chamaria, in the course of the hearing, stressed that the non-release of such funds greatly affects the public at large, and it also causes injustice to such persons despite the fact that they are entitled under the mandate of the Indian Constitution itself.

While this matter was being heard, the HC bench today passed a harsh comment about the concerned officers of the Assam government, on their dealing with the said subject matter, and specifically, the finance department, as its role was found distinctly unsatisfactory, according to Advocate Chamaria.

Further, it was also commented that even the intention of the Assam government towards implementation of this scheme for needy people also seems vulnerable, and if the government is unable to bear such cost, it was suggested by the court that it should close down this scheme so that nothing remains due towards them.

The court finally directed the chief secretary to the Government of Assam to hold a meeting immediately to adopt all measures regarding the said liability so that the outstanding amount can be released before March 31, 2025.

Moreover, it was also directed that the outcome of such a meeting should be communicated to the court on the next date of hearing without fail.

Further, it was also directed that if the order is not followed by the government officials as directed above, then it would be treated as a contempt of the court’s order, for which it will invite the drawing up of contempt proceedings by the court against such officials concerned. The matter is again fixed for further hearing on February 10, 2025.

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