State to recover amounts from accused; directed to compile assets of Luthra brothers, ex-sarpanch Redkar
PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has accepted the State government’s proposal to disburse compensation to the families of victims of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire and subsequently recover the amount from the accused persons including Luthra brothers.
The Bench directed the State to compile and place on record a detailed list of assets of the Luthra brothers and the disqualified sarpanch of the Arpora-Nagoa village panchayat, Roshan Redkar among other accused persons.
The direction was issued on Tuesday while hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the fatal fire incident that killed 25 and injured several others.
Observing that compensation to victims’ families should not be delayed, the High Court permitted the government to proceed with interim relief, subject to recovery from those held responsible for the incident. The court fixed February 16 as the next date of hearing of the suo motu PIL for further consideration.
During the previous hearing, notices were issued to several parties, including various panchayats. Among the principal respondents were accused brothers Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra and Redkar. The court was informed that Redkar had already been served the notice, while the Luthras are presently in custody.
The court directed the State government to ensure that notices are served on the accused through the police, noting that the matter would be taken up again after two weeks.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the media that the State had informed the court that directions were necessary to ensure payment of compensation, particularly as many of the victims belonged to economically weaker sections.
“They (victims) may not be able to agitate their rights before courts of law, especially victims from poor background. The High Court agreed and said that we should place before the court details of the assets of the persons responsible for this incident, as the court is inclined to pass orders to award compensation and recover it from those responsible,” Pangam said.
He said that most notices had already been issued and only a few remained to be served. “As a government, we will serve them as early as possible. The police will be instructed to serve the notices on those who are in custody within the next 2-3 days,” Pangam added.
The AG further said that the State would collect the notices from the court and ensure their service. “The formula for determining compensation in such incidents has been laid down by the Supreme Court. We will place the formula before the court and assist it in arriving at fair and just compensation in each case,” he said.
Pangam also said that the State machinery, including the police and other departments, would make efforts to trace the assets of those responsible for the incident. “A detailed list of such assets will be placed before the court,” he added.
