Kochi: A division bench of the High Court has dismissed a writ appeal by the state government, challenging a single judge order awarding Rs 7 lakh as compensation to Chandrabose, a driver, who lost sight in one eye in stone-pelting by supporters of hartal called by LDF in 2005.
The division bench ordered the state government to pay the damages within two months and recover the amount from the political party or the front which had called for the hartal.
The front, which was arrayed as one of the respondents, had failed to appear before the court despite notices.
The division bench observed that the hartal was a blot on the image of the state ...place before the hartal had begun. The hartal was from the midnight of July 4 to 5, 2005 while the attack was the previous day.
The division bench rejected the contention and said “the state ought to, as a matter of primary responsibility, protect the lives of its citizens”. It also observed that “the failure to rein in political parties that take public to ransom amounts to culpable omission of its sovereign function – protecting the citizens”.
