Delhi Riot Victims Seek Contempt Action Over Unpaid Compensation
More than a year after the Delhi High Court ordered the release of compensation to victims of the northeast Delhi riots, the affected individuals have received no payment. This delay has prompted them to move court, seeking contempt proceedings against Delhi government officials for their failure to comply with the judicial directive.
Court's Clear Directive Ignored
In January of last year, the Delhi High Court explicitly instructed the government to disburse the compensation amounts recommended by the riots commission for five petitioners who had approached the court. The authorities were given an eight-week timeline to execute this order, a deadline that came after the government did not oppose the initial demand.
However, the situation took a contentious turn when, just a few months later in 2025, the government filed an application seeking a recall of the January order. This matter remains pending, adding another layer of complexity to an already protracted legal battle.
Victims' Plea Highlights Government's "Contumacious Attitude"
The contempt plea, filed through advocate Suroor Mander, starkly outlines the government's inaction. "That despite the categorical, unambiguous and time-bound direction issued by this hon'ble court, the contemner has chosen to blatantly disregard and disobey the same," the plea states. It emphasizes that even after nine months from the order's date, not a single rupee of the recommended compensation has been released to the petitioners.
Mander argued that while the commission's assessed amount is only a fraction of what the petitioners are legally entitled to, it should at least be released following the court's clear directions. The plea contends that the government's recall application, "filed as an afterthought, must itself be held to be contumacious as no case is made to entertain the said application."
Impact on Vulnerable Victims
The compensation is urgently needed for petitioners whose lives, livelihoods, and properties were devastated during the communal violence in February 2020. The petition criticizes the government's "conduct clearly reflects a contumacious and apathetic attitude, particularly when viewed in the context of the vulnerable position of the petitioners... who continue to suffer from financial and emotional distress even after nearly five years of the tragic events."
It further argues that the Delhi government's "wilful defiance resulted not only in violation of the express orders of this hon'ble court but also in denial of the petitioners' right to receive compensation as recognised under the statutory and constitutional framework."
Call for Immediate Action
Urging the High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the responsible officials, the plea highlights that the five petitioners have "already endured great suffering and prolonged litigation merely to obtain a fraction of the relief lawfully due to them." This case underscores the ongoing struggles of riot victims seeking justice and financial redressal, with the legal process now focusing on holding authorities accountable for their delayed response.
