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Sanjay Gupta v. State of Uttar Pradesh

Writ Petition (Civil) · Neutral citation not assigned (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 338 of 2006)Decided 31 Jul 2014
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 338 of 2006
Justice Dipak Misra · Justice V. Gopala Gowda

Background

This is an interim order, not a final judgment. A fire at a consumer fair in Victoria Park, Meerut, in April 2006 killed 64 people and injured more than a hundred. Victims sought compensation and accountability, while the fair organisers challenged an inquiry report that blamed them. They had been summoned as witnesses but had not received the notice or opportunity to cross-examine witnesses required before findings damaging their reputation were made.

Decision Breakdown

This is an interim order, not a final judgment. The Supreme Court set aside the earlier inquiry report and appointed former Supreme Court judge S. B. Sinha to conduct a fresh inquiry with proper notice and opportunities to challenge the evidence. It ordered the State to pay additional interim compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the legal heirs of each deceased person, Rs. 2 lakh to each seriously injured person and Rs. 75,000 to each person with minor injuries. The money was to be deposited with the District Judge within two months and distributed within the following month, using records supplied by the Collector. The organiser respondents were also directed to deposit Rs. 30 lakh with the Court. Final compensation, the allocation of responsibility and the maintainability of the writ petition remained open pending the fresh report.

Lesson Learnt

Victims of a public disaster may receive interim financial relief while responsibility is still being investigated. An inquiry must also give people facing adverse findings a fair chance to answer the allegations and challenge the evidence.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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