1 Crore Compensation Policy: Respecting Sacrifice and Bravery of Martyrs
In a press conference on July 24, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal briefed media on two important decisions taken by the cabinet. 1) Decision to re-launch Rs 1 crore compensation policy and 2) Plan to increase income of Delhi farmers 3-5 times. More details about farmer incomes will be discussed in future blogs. This blog is focused on the Rs 1 crore compensation policy.
It is brutally true that money can't fill the void created due to the loss of someone's life but it can bring financial stability for the family who lost their loved one. Whether a loss of life happens in the army, police or any other security forces, government of NCT Delhi will compensate Rs 1 crore if a life is sacrificed on duty. Delhi govt announced this policy in 2013 but it was discontinued due to political clashes in the union territory. Since SC restored the power of Delhi govt in its judgement on July 4th, AAP govt brought back the Rs 1 crore compensation policy.
The compensation of Rs 1 Crore is the highest compensation ever by any state government in India. Here is a timeline of the compensation policy announcement by Delhi govt.
2013: Delhi govt under AAP announced Rs 1 crore as compensation to the kin of police constable who lost his life fighting against liquor mafia. Despite the acidic relations that Delhi govt has with Delhi Police due to the complicated power structure and the bitter attitude of Delhi police against Arvind Kejriwal govt, AAP govt rewarded the family by recognizing and respecting bravery of the constable.
2014: AAP govt introduced Rs 1 crore compensation policy. Later on Feb 14th, Arvind Kejriwal resigned after 49 days of governance.
2015: AAP came back into power in Delhi and passed the bill to make a standard policy of Rs 1 crore as compensation to families of personnel of uniformed forces killed on line of duty. According to this policy, Delhi-based families of personnel killed on duty but serving outside the city are also eligible. Personnel of Delhi Police, Defense personnel, Home Guards, Civil Defense, Marshals (who are deployed in buses for women security measures), Armed forces, Paramilitary forces etc.
2016: Delhi govt amended the bill (in Feb 2016) to include families of defense personnel who lose their lives on account of operations, calamities and disaster.
Here are the instances where Delhi govt has provided Rs 1 crore compensation to martyr’s families.
After the above 6 compensations, the policy was discontinued when HC gave its judgement in Aug 2016. In its judgement, HC stated:
AAP Govt challenged HC judgement in SC and on July 4th, 2018 SC stated in its judgement that:
According to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, Rs 1 crore as compensation is to pay homage for sacrifice and courage of martyrs. Whatever be the case, it is the responsibility of government to take care of families of those people in security forces who sacrificed their lives on duty.
It is brutally true that money can't fill the void created due to the loss of someone's life but it can bring financial stability for the family who lost their loved one. Whether a loss of life happens in the army, police or any other security forces, government of NCT Delhi will compensate Rs 1 crore if a life is sacrificed on duty. Delhi govt announced this policy in 2013 but it was discontinued due to political clashes in the union territory. Since SC restored the power of Delhi govt in its judgement on July 4th, AAP govt brought back the Rs 1 crore compensation policy.
The compensation of Rs 1 Crore is the highest compensation ever by any state government in India. Here is a timeline of the compensation policy announcement by Delhi govt.
2013: Delhi govt under AAP announced Rs 1 crore as compensation to the kin of police constable who lost his life fighting against liquor mafia. Despite the acidic relations that Delhi govt has with Delhi Police due to the complicated power structure and the bitter attitude of Delhi police against Arvind Kejriwal govt, AAP govt rewarded the family by recognizing and respecting bravery of the constable.
2014: AAP govt introduced Rs 1 crore compensation policy. Later on Feb 14th, Arvind Kejriwal resigned after 49 days of governance.
2015: AAP came back into power in Delhi and passed the bill to make a standard policy of Rs 1 crore as compensation to families of personnel of uniformed forces killed on line of duty. According to this policy, Delhi-based families of personnel killed on duty but serving outside the city are also eligible. Personnel of Delhi Police, Defense personnel, Home Guards, Civil Defense, Marshals (who are deployed in buses for women security measures), Armed forces, Paramilitary forces etc.
2016: Delhi govt amended the bill (in Feb 2016) to include families of defense personnel who lose their lives on account of operations, calamities and disaster.
Here are the instances where Delhi govt has provided Rs 1 crore compensation to martyr’s families.
- Dec 2013: Delhi govt announced Rs 1 Cr for Vinod Rai, a police constable who was killed by liquor mafia.
- Feb 2015: CM Arvind Kejriwal announced Rs 1 Cr for Cobra battalion head constable Narottam Das who sacrificed his life in a landmine blast in Gaya. A job was also offered to martyr Narottam’s wife. Delhi govt also promised to take care of educational expenses of his children.
- Dec 2015: Delhi govt gave Rs 1 crore to family of Constable Ram Kumar who lost his life in Karkardooma court firing incident in Dec, 2015.
- Apr 2016: Delhi govt announced Rs 1 crore compensation to the family of slain NIA officer Tanzhil Ahmed.
- May 2016: Delhi govt provides Rs 1 crore as compensation to MM Khan – the NDMC law officer, who was murdered by a Hotel owner because he refused to take bribe for letting him off in an illegal construction. Check to the families of Tanzhil Ahmed and MM Khan were given in July.
- Aug 2016: Delhi govt announced Rs 1 Cr as compensation to the family of constable Anand Kumar who died fighting robbers in Shahbad.
After the above 6 compensations, the policy was discontinued when HC gave its judgement in Aug 2016. In its judgement, HC stated:
LG is the administrative head of National Capital Territory and AAP government’s contention that he is bound to act on the advice of Council of Ministers was "without substance"
AAP Govt challenged HC judgement in SC and on July 4th, 2018 SC stated in its judgement that:
LG does not have independent decision-making powers and is bound to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers
According to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, Rs 1 crore as compensation is to pay homage for sacrifice and courage of martyrs. Whatever be the case, it is the responsibility of government to take care of families of those people in security forces who sacrificed their lives on duty.
Valuable information! Looking forward to seeing your notes posted for more info: Compensation Administration
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