A PUBLIC interest litigation (PIL) challenging Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s announcement of ex-gratia payment to the family of four labourers who died at IT Crystal Park building was filed at Indore High Court bench today.
The PIL submitted that Chief Minister’s announcement of ex-gratia of Rs 25,000 is unjust when even a good breed cow like Holstein cross breed costs more than the declared sum.
Petitioner Satya Pal Anand said that its not a case of ex-gratia payment and the Chief Minister has a duty in law to direct the payment of just compensation to legal heir of the bread earners who lost life because of criminal negligence on the part of officers and state-owned Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (AKVN) who were the principal employers of labourers and who placed them to work under a private construction company.
The litigant said that liability of AKVN and State Government did not vanish by placing them on job under private company, as it was their duty to ensure that safety measures and equipment were kept ready to meet any emergency.
The PIL alleged that Chief Minister also failed in his duty to direct police to register criminal case against all officers, AKVN and construction company. Citing Supreme Court judgement where a Bangladeshi woman reported to be raped was given compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Anand said that the workers not only lost their dignity but also their lives. Their constitutional right to live was thus waived, he observed.
The PIL alleged that Chief Minister also failed in his duty to direct police to register criminal case against all officers, AKVN and construction company. Citing Supreme Court judgement where a Bangladeshi woman reported to be raped was given compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Anand said that the workers not only lost their dignity but also their lives. Their constitutional right to live was thus waived, he observed.