New Delhi, April 4
The Haryana Government today rejected in the Supreme Court the demand for a compensation of Rs 2 crore each for over 120 Dalit families that had fled Mirchpur village in Hisar district following the April 21, 2010 riots against them.

“Acceding to the wholly unjustified demand would amount to acting in contravention of the law,” the state government said in an affidavit filed through Additional Advocate General Manjit Singh Dalal.

Listing a series of relief and rehabilitation measures already taken by the government, the affidavit said more than Rs 19 crore had already been spent on the reconstruction of 18 damaged houses, construction of CC Street in the village, including the Balmiki Basti, and on payment of financial compensation.

While Rs 20 lakh was paid to the family of Tara Chand, who along with his disabled daughter were killed in the violence, Rs 13 lakh was given as medical aid to 52 injured victims. Further, Rs 41 lakh worth of wheat had been supplied.

The government had provided relief that was more than what was allowed under various provisions of law, in addition to giving them employment and security, it maintained.

At the January 31 hearing, the SC had made it clear that it was not inclined to direct the state to resettle the victims somewhere else as the government was against the proposal. Responding to the remarks by the Bench, the victims sought a cash compensation of Rs 2 crore to each of their families as they were not willing to return to Mirchpur.