Late last month, over 60 people died in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy. Following the tragic deaths, Tamil Nadu government announced a compensation of Rs 10 Lakh each to the families of all the deceased. However, now, a plea has been filed in the court against the compensation arguing that the victims were no freedom fighters that they should be paid this amount.
The Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Madras High Court by a certain Mohamed Ghouse to strike down the Tamil Nadu government order providing the Rs 10 lakh compensation to all the victims of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. The plea argued, “The hooch victims were not freedom fighters or social activists who have lost their lives for the cause of the general public or for the sake of the society and had committed an illegal act by consuming illicit liquor.”
Mohamed Ghouse further argued that consuming illicit liquor is an illegal act and the state need not have pity on those who consumed illicit liquor and thereby committed an illegal act and consequently succumbed to such an act.
The plea further said that it was not justified on what basis the state government was granting a lesser solatium to victims of fire or any other accidents, and at the same time granting a huge amount to hooch tragedy victims.
The plea came up for hearing in Madras High Court on Friday, July 5, where a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shafiq orally noted that the compensation amount was on the higher side and posted the next hearing after two weeks.
Meanwhile, The Bench directed a government counsel to take instructions within two weeks, before the next hearing, on reconsidering the compensation announced by the State.
