High Court awards compensation to woman

The Madras High Court today awarded a compensation of Rs three lakh to a woman whose husband died in police custody in August 1997 and directed the Tamil Nadu government to make payment to her within eight weeks after deducting Rs one lakh already paid to her by the government.

Passing orders on a petition by the woman seeking compensation, Justice K Raviraja Pandian held that after taking into consideration the facts a compensation of Rs three lakh could be awarded to the petitioner. He, however, turned down a plea for a CBI probe into the custodial death.

According to the woman Indumathi, her husband Selvaraj was picked up by the city police on August 24, 1997 on a complaint from one Srikumar in a civil dispute.A couple of days later she was informed about his death.

An inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Officer concerned, showed that it was not a case of natural death but due to head injuries.The officer had also recommended suitable action against an inspector, sub-inspector and three constables.

The government also initiated criminal proceedings against the five before the Principal Sessions Judge (PSJ) Chengleput.

Apart from holding the policemen guilty of the charges, the PSJ had directed the inspector and sub-inspector to pay the woman Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively. Their appeals against the direction is pending in the High Court.

The judge also directed the state to also pay Rs three lakh to another woman, whose husband also died in police custody on August 11, 1997 at a police station in Perambalur district. The government had already paid her RS50,000. The balance is to be paid within 10 weeks.

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