UTP died in jail: HC awards Rs 5 L to kin

CUTTACK: In a significant judgment, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to the family of Rajkishore Parida of Injana village under Mancheswar Police limits of Bhubaneswar. He had allegedly died of negligence in jail on November 5, 2003. A Division Bench of Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra has directed that Rs  1 lakh be paid in cash to his widow and petitioner Kuni Parida and the balance Rs  4 lakh kept in fixed deposits in a nationalised bank.  Out of Rs  4 lakh, Rs  1 lakh would be kept in Kuni’s account while the rest would be equally divided and kept in joint accounts of Kuni and son Guru (Rs  1.5 lakh) and Kuni and son Suman Parida (Rs  1.5 lakh). The interest accrued shall be withdrawn monthly for their maintenance and education.  The HC has directed the State Government to pay the amount within eight weeks from Tuesday failing which the same shall carry 9 per cent interest till the date of payment. The petitioner had filed the writ seeking a direction to the Government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for death of Rajkishore in jail custody.  According to Kuni, her husband was a mason and earning Rs  150 a day. He was arrested on September 5, 2003, in connection with a theft case and lodged in Jharpada Jail as a UTP. She alleged that while in jail he fell ill and due to negligence of the jail authorities he died on November 5. She was not even informed of her husband’s demise and came to know of it from newspaper reports the following day. Jail authorities stated before the Court that Rajkishore was not keeping well right from the beginning and being treated in the jail.  Considering the case and relying on certain decisions of the Supreme Court, the Bench held that the deceased was the sole breadwinner for the family and accordingly ordered payment of compensation.