Decide on giving jobs to riot victims: HC

Ahmedabad: Nearly three years after the Centre introduced a scheme of offering compassionate appointments in government jobs to family members of those killed during the 2002 riots, the state government has also initiated similar process. The step however is not
without the Gujarat High Court’s pressure, which has asked the state and Union governments to come up with a decision in this regard within six weeks.


A bench headed by Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya granted time to the government to take final decision following submission by the government pleader that they had already formed a five-member committee to decide on compassionate appointments. The committee, which includes secretaries of general administrative, revenue, finance and relief departments,
will come up with a report in a month.
The state government had earlier refused to give jobs to the riot victims citing that there was no such policy to employ kin of riot victims in government establishment. But upon the court’s insistence to follow the 2007 reference by the Centre for the purpose of rehabilitation of the riot affected. The Centre had indicated at possibility of recruiting kin of riot victims in paramilitary forces.
Acting on a PIL filed by Gagan Sethi to implement the Centre’s schemes, the high court on June 30 issued oral directions for the possibility of recruitment of people in government jobs and for disbursing funds for uninsured commercial property.
In affidavit filed earlier this month, the Centre informed the court that the Union home ministry had proposed allocation of Rs 84.75 crore extra towards damaged uninsured commercial property. This fund was not sanctioned last time, but it would send another proposal to the finance department soon.
For disbursement of damaged residential property compensation, the Centre had released Rs 262.44 crore that have been disbursed by the state government. However, 1,300 other cases of damaged residential property were being considered by the governments. Further hearing on this PIL is scheduled for December 14.