Holding

The special ex‑gratia relief notification fixes a ceiling, so a claim for higher compensation under Section 482 is untenable, but the State must pay an additional Rs 17,000 for medical expenses.

Summary

Kuldip Singh was injured when police fired on him during a terrorist chase on 7 July 1991, resulting in the loss of his right forearm. He received a special ex-gratia grant of Rs 20,000 and Rs 3,378 for medical expenses under a 1991 government notification that fixed a ceiling for such relief. Ten years later he filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking Rs 3 lakh in compensation; the Punjab High Court ordered the State to pay an additional Rs 80,000. The State appealed, arguing that the notification capped the amount and that Section 482 could not be used for compensation. The Supreme Court held that the notification indeed set a maximum for the special ex‑gratia grant and that a claim for higher compensation under Section 482 was untenable, but it observed that the medical reimbursement paid was inadequate and directed the State to pay an extra Rs 17,000. The appeal was partly allowed, with the State ordered to pay the additional medical amount within two months.

Issues considered

The applicability of Section 482 CrPC for claiming compensation beyond the amount fixed in the special ex‑gratia relief notification.
Whether the High Court's award of Rs 80,000 over and above the ex‑gratia amount is legally sustainable.
The effect of the ten‑year delay in filing the claim on its viability.
Whether additional medical expenses can be awarded despite the ceiling stipulated in the notification.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 482

Subjects

ex‑gratia reliefcompensationSection 482 CrPCspecial ex‑gratia grantterrorismpolice firingmedical expensesdelayed claimSupreme Court

Judgment

STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS. A
v.
KULDIP SINGH

JUNE 21, 2007

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT AND D.K. JAIN, JJ.] B
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; S. 482.

Notification-Special ex-gratia relief to victim of terrorist action by
Security Forces-Relief and medical expenses granted to respondent-victim-
Filing of petition u/s 482 Cr.P.C. demanding compensation-High Court C
directing the State to pay to petitioner a further amount of Rs. 80,0001-0n
appeal, held, in terms of the notification, limited special ex-gratia relief
being granted to victim of terrorist action by the Security Forces-Thus,
victim cannot make any claim higher than the limit so fu:ed in terms of the
notification-Besides claim ofcompensation u/s 482 is misconceived-Further,
· the victim was also given employment by the State Government-However, D
medical expenses paid is low compared to normal expenses-Accordingly,
the State Government is directed to pay a sum of Rs. 17,0001- towards
medical expenses in addition to the sum already paid as ex-gratia in terms
of the notification.

Respondent was hurt during the ambush in terrorist chase on 7. 7.1993
E
when he was visiting a relative in the night The police started shooting several
bullets hitting his right forearm which was blown off. He was taken to the
hospital where the right arm below elbow was amputated. Thereafter he had
to undergo another surgery as he had developed abscess. He was paid a special
ex-gratia relief of Rs. 20,000/- in terms of the notification providing for ex- F
gratia relief to the victim of terrorist action by the Security Forces acting in
civil power and also a sum of Rs.3, 378/- as medical expenses. After about 10
years, he had filed a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. demanding
compensation of rupee 3 lacs. The High Court allowed the petition by awarding
to the petitioner a further amount of Rs, 80,000/-. Hence the present appeal. G
Appellant-State contended that since the amount paid was fixed in terms
of the notification, the High Court 's direction for payment is clearly
unsustainable.

1137 H
\
~·

ll38 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 7 S.C.R.

A Respondent-victim submitted that the amount was given as a purely
palliative measure and, therefore, there was no restriction on the High Court's
power to award compensation; and that the amount awarded for medical
expenses is petty. '

Partly allowing the appeals, the Court
B
HELD: I. The notification dated 18.1.1991 issued by the State
Government makes the position clear that it was paid as "special ex-gratia
grant". The limit was also fixed. Therefore, the question of the responding
making any claim in terms of the notification for a higher amount does not
C arise. Additionally, the respondent was not claiming compensation in a writ
petition but under Section 482 Cr.P.C., and such a cliam is misconceived.

Additionally, the claim was made IO years after the amount fixed by the
Government had been paid to him. It is also not in dispute that the respondent
has been-appointed as a Chowkidar in a government school. Therefore, strictly )

D speaking, in terms of the notification nothing further is to be paid to the
respondent. But the medical expenses paid are certainly low compared to the
normal expenses which appear to have been spent for the operations and
treatment. Accordingly, the quantum at Rs. 20,000/- is fixed. The same is in
addition to the fixed sum already paid by way of ex-gratia compensation under
the notification. Though there was a belated claim, in view of the peculiar
E circumstances of the case, the belated approach is not treated to be fatal.
Accordingly, an additional sum of Rs. 17,000/- shall be paid by the State
Government to the respondent within two months. (Para 71 (1140-D-GI

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1295 of
2002.
F
From the Judgment & Order dated 10.05.2002 of the High Court of
Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Misc. No. 25991-M of 200 I.

Gangandeep Sharma and Ajay Pal for the Appellants .

.G Collin Gonsalves, Sr. Adv., Jyoti Mendiratta for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

DR. ARIJIT PASA YAT, J. l. The State of Punjab and its functionaries
question the correctness of the order passed by a learned Single Judge of the
H Punjab and Harayna High Court. On a petition under Section 482 of the Code
STATE OF PUNJABv. KULDIPSINGH [PASAYAT.J.) 1139
of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short 'Cr.P.C. ').the High Court by the impugned A
order directed the appellant-State to pay a sum of Rs.80,000/- over and above
what was paid to him as ex-gratia payment. It was held that the same would
be in final settlement of claim of the respondent.

2. Background facts in a nutshell are as fo'llows:
B
In July 199 l State of Punjab was in the grab of terrorism at its height.
Respondent suffered bullet injuries and his hand above the foreann had to
be amputated. On l 8. l .1991 the Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department
of Relief and Resettlement, Chandigarh, wrote to Deputy Commissioners and
Sub-Divisional Officers (C) in the State regarding revised scales of relief for C
the persons adversely affected as a result of terrorists action by security
forces acting in civil power.

3. It was provided therein as follows:

"The question of grant of special ex-gratia relief to those who sustain
pennanent disability less than I 00% in terrorists violence/security D
... .. forces acting in aid of civil power was under active consideration of
this Department and it has been decided that in the event of innocent
civilian sustaining disability less than I 00% in terrorist violence by
security forces acting in aid of civil power, he/she may be paid special
ex-gratia grant at the following scales: E
i. in the event of disability upto 25% Rs.5,000/-

ii. in the event of disability from 25% to 50% Rs. I 0,000.

In the event of disability above 50% and less than 100%
Rs.20,000-." F
4. On 7.7.1991 during the ambush in terrorist chase the respondent was
hurt. He was visiting a relative in the night. The police asked him to stop.
According to the police forces he did not pay any heed to stop the vehicle.
In any event, police started shooting, several bullets hit his right foreann
which was immediately blown off and severed from upper ann. He was taken G
to the hospital where the right ann below elbow was amputated. Thereafter
also the respondent had to undergo another surgery at PGI, Chandigarh as
he had developed abscess. He was paid Rs.20,000/- in tenns of the notification
and a sum of Rs.3,378/- as medical expenses. After about 10 years, the petition
under Section 482 Cr.P.C. was filed demanding compensation of rupees 3 lacs.
The claim was resisted on several grounds including delayed approach and H
1140 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 7 S.C.R.

A the non-applicability of Section 482 Cr.P.C. The High Court passed the
following order:

Reply filed, the same is taken on record.

The State of Punjab will pay to the petitioner a further amount of
B Rs.80,000/- within a period of three months. This will be final settlement
of the claim of the petitioner..

The petition is disposed of accordingly."

5. In support of the appeal, learned counsel for the State and its
C functionaries submitted that the amount paid was fixed in terms of the
notification and, therefore, the High Court's direction for payment is clearly
.•'

unsustainable.

6. hi response, teamed counsel for the respondent submitted that the
amount was given as a purely palliative measure and, therefore, there was no
.D restriction on the High Court's power to award compensation. It was also
submitted that the amount awarded for medical expenses is petty.

7. A bare look at the notification dated 18.1.1991 makes the position
clear that it was paid as "special ex-gratia grant". The limit was also fixed.
Therefore, the question of the respondent making any claim in terms of the
E notification for a higher amount does not arise. Additionally, the respondent
was not claiming compensation in a writ petition but under Section 482 Cr.P.C.,
and such a claim is also misconceived. Additionally, the claim was made 10
years after the amount fixed by the Government had been paid to him. It is
also not in dispute that the respondent has been appointed as a Chowkldar
F in a government school. Therefore, strictly speaking, in terms of the notification
nothing further is to be paid to the respondent. But we find that medical
expenses paid are certainly low compared to the normal expenses which
appear to have been spent for the operations and treatment. We fix the
/-
quantum at Rs.20,000/-. The same is in addition to the fixed sum already paid
by way of ex-gratia compensation under the notification. Though there was
G a belated claim, in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case we have not
treated the belated approach to be fatal. An additional sum ofRs.17,000/- shall
be paid to the respondent within two months. The appeal is allowed to the.
aforesaid extent.

S.K.S. Appeal partly allowed.
H