Gujarat fails to pay damages, court warns of contempt

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High court Tuesday warned the state government of contempt proceedings if it fails to clarify within a week whether it intends to pay compensation to a petitioner who suffered losses during the post-Godhra riots in 2002.

The court order dated Dec 23, 2009, had allowed time till Jan 20, 2010, to the state government to pay the compensation after its counsel sought time to obtain instructions from the government.

The government failed to submit its affidavit in this matter till date.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhya and Justice Akil Kureshi expressed its displeasure over the government’s approach and asked the government to file its affidavit within a week’s time.

“By way of last chance, a week’s time is allowed to the respondents to file affidavit in the light of the observations made on Dec 23, 2009,” the division bench ordered.

Bipin Panchal had filed a petition seeking directions to the government to give him compensation for the loss of his property during the 2002 riots.