HC bench orders notice on PIL for murder victims' compensation

A PIL seeking compensation from the Government for those killed by hirelings was filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court here today.
When the petition came up for hearing, a Division bench comprising Justice A Selvam and Justice V S Ravi ordered notice to the Principal Home Secretary returnable by December 4.
Petitioner A Sadayandi, a PIL litigant, submitted that 19 innocent persons were murdered by hirelings in various districts, including Madurai and Virudhunagar, in the three years ending December 2013. But their families have not been compensated although it was the duty of the police to protect people.

People had lost faith in the police administration as cases had been registered against both aggressors and the victims in many criminal cases, he said, adding, out of 7,586 cases registered in 23 districts in Tamil Nadu 5,413 had been registered both against the aggressors and the victims in the three year period.
This was a violation of Police Standing Order which said both parties should not be charged. The cases against the victims of aggressors should be quashed and there should be periodical inspection about this factor.
Another charge levelled against the police, according to the petitioner, was that they made compromise in cases where the complainant had made out a cognizable offence.

The duty of the police was only to register case and not compromise. In nine districts, police had compromised 21,644 cases which was totally unfair practice, he contended.