Some claimants not entitled to compensation for '93 riots

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government has told the Supreme Court that some claimants of compensation for the 1992-93 riots are not entitled for support from the government. The government has said that it was in the process of tracing genuine claimants.

Presenting the detailed status of 173 cases related to the claims for compensation in pursuance of the apex court passed on January 18, 2007, the government has said some of the claimants were not entitled for compensation for various reasons. The government in its affidavit cited various causes which bar claimants from receiving compensation. It has cited 5 such names in this regard.

“Criminal case is pending in D B Marg police station against Ajay Kerupant Amberkar and as such not liable for compensation. Collector, Mumbai Suburban district communicated that as per the policy laid down in circular dated 22.7.98 he (Mohammed Hadis Mohammad Famud does not have a ration card or have his name enrolled in electoral rolls, and hence is not eligible for payment,” said the affidavit.

In respect of Valliullah Khan, complaint was not lodged in police station regarding missing of this person, and the government has rejected the claim, affidavit said. The case Mohammad Gulam Jabbar Ansari and Tabar Khan Surab Khan is also devoid of merit for compensation as no such persons were residing at the given address, said the government.

“Where there is disputes between legal heirs, they have been requested to furnish succession certificates so that compensation could be paid to the legitimate claimant. The collector, Mumbai city, as well as collector, Mumbai suburban district have been instructed by the additional chief secretary (home) to expedite these proposals for releasing payment at the earliest” said government.

The affidavit said that some of the cases are under active consideration of the government and as soon as indemnity bonds are furnished by the claimants as already informed to the concerned collectors of the other states where the claimants are residing, compensation will be paid to them.

The state has said that no report was forthcoming about some missing persons. “Some of the NGOs have been requested to make efforts to find out whereabouts of the claimants so that the compensation could be disbursed to genuine claimants. There has been no response so far as 49 missing persons are concerned.

In case, if any genuine claimant come forward and is found eligible, the compensation would be disbursed to such claimants. Names of these missing persons were published in the national daily Nav Bharat Times,” said the affidavit.

Eight cases were not related with the riots of 1992-93 and 35 persons alleged to have been missing were found alive during the inquiry, informed the affidavit. Forty-four dependants/ claimants had already received compensation, claimants have been paid Rs 2 lakh each, added the affidavit.

The Srikrishna Commission has found 173 persons missing and presumably dead. The apex court is seized of the PIL filed by the action committee for implementation of Srikrishna Commission. The committee through its counsel Anis Suhrawardy had moved the Supreme Court alleging failure of Shiv Sena- BJP government in the state to act on the report which indicted Sena chief Bal Thackeray, former Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and some police officers.