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The financial relief is not to reward the victims but to help the dependents of the victims who are economically weak and have lost their breadwinners in the family, said the court
The Madras High Court recently rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought direction to the Tamil Nadu government not to distribute Rs 10 Lakh ex-gratia compensation announced to the families of the persons who lost their lives, drinking illicit liquor in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
The bench comprising Justice SS Sundar and Justice N Senthilkumar emphasized that this financial assistance was provided not as a reward, but as a means to support the dependents of those who had lost their primary breadwinners in the tragedy.
The court highlighted that the compensation was given on humanitarian grounds, intended to offer relief to the economically disadvantaged families left in turmoil after the incident.
Court opined that the petitioner failed to grasp the essence of the relief measure, which aimed to ensure that the families could survive with dignity.
Court pointed out that the petitioner, D Kumaresh, had filed the case without adequate research or understanding of the government’s scheme.
Kumaresh, a social worker, had argued that offering financial assistance to the families of those involved in illegal activities could be seen as rewarding unlawful behavior. He contended that the victims, having consumed illicit liquor, should not be equated with martyrs deserving of compensation.
However, court held that the state had the prerogative to implement policies as it deemed fit, particularly in cases of social welfare.
The Advocate General, PS Raman, defended the government's decision, explaining that the relief package was crucial to help the dependents—some of whom were children who had lost their parents—navigate the severe economic challenges they now faced.
Therefore, the court found no grounds to interfere with the government's decision, emphasizing that such matters of economic policy and social reform are generally outside the purview of judicial review, unless proven unconstitutional.
Accordingly, court dismissed the petition.
Kallakurichi alcohol poisoning:
On June 20, 2024, Kallakurichi district in Tamil Nadu witnessed a tragic incident of alcohol poisoning. The consumption of illicitly produced liquor led to the deaths of at least 65 people and caused injuries to over 200 others. Most of the victims were economically and socially disadvantaged Dalits from Kallakurichi and nearby villages.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced compensation of Rs 10 Lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Case Title: D.Kumaresh vs. The Chief Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu
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