M A I N   N E W S

muzaffarnagar mayhem
SC wants UP to withdraw relief based on communal lines
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, November 21
Coming down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Government for minority-appeasement, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the state to withdraw its October 26 notification that contained the names of only Muslims for the grant of Rs 5 lakh compensation following the recent Muzaffarnagar riots.

A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam ordered the Samajwadi Party government of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to issue a fresh notification extending compensation to all riot victims, irrespective of their community or religion.

As many as 61 people were killed in the September 7 violence that rocked Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas. About 51,000 persons fled their homes and took shelter in 58 relief camps of whom over 45,000 returned to their villages.

The state government had issued the notification, earmarking Rs 90 crore for payment of compensation, including Rs 5 lakh for each of the Muslim families that did not want to return to their villages from the relief camps.

Appearing for the state government, senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan sought to justify the Rs 5 lakh-compensation, contending that the victims were scared of returning to their villages as they perceived danger to their lives. The compensation was necessary to help them relocate.