HYDERABAD: Making it clear that fundamental rights cannot be denied even to prisoners, Telangana high court has directed state govt to pay over Rs 6 lakh as compensation to the widow of a life convict murdered by a co-prisoner in Hyderabad jail in 2012, reported.
Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy brushed aside the state’s argument that it was not responsible as Karolla Venkaiah did not die at the hands of jail staff.The judge stressed that jail officials had failed in their duty to protect his life. “Right to life guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be taken away from a person merely because he happened to be a convict. Deprivation of rights is possible only to the extent permitted by law,” Justice Reddy said.
Fastening the vicarious liability on the authorities, HC directed the state to pay Rs 6.2 lakh along with 6% interest for 12 years within three months to Venkaiah’s widow Jayamma. Jayamma, a native of Medak, had moved HC and sought Rs 10 lakh from the state and jail authorities. The state counsel claimed in the HC that the govt had earlier paid Jayamma Rs1 lakh in tune with NHRC’s recommendations. Since there is no yardstick available to compensate the kin in such cases, Justice Reddy adopted a method used in motor accident cases where remainder of active life and wages of the deceased are taken into consideration.
Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy brushed aside the state’s argument that it was not responsible as Karolla Venkaiah did not die at the hands of jail staff.The judge stressed that jail officials had failed in their duty to protect his life. “Right to life guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be taken away from a person merely because he happened to be a convict. Deprivation of rights is possible only to the extent permitted by law,” Justice Reddy said.
Fastening the vicarious liability on the authorities, HC directed the state to pay Rs 6.2 lakh along with 6% interest for 12 years within three months to Venkaiah’s widow Jayamma. Jayamma, a native of Medak, had moved HC and sought Rs 10 lakh from the state and jail authorities. The state counsel claimed in the HC that the govt had earlier paid Jayamma Rs1 lakh in tune with NHRC’s recommendations. Since there is no yardstick available to compensate the kin in such cases, Justice Reddy adopted a method used in motor accident cases where remainder of active life and wages of the deceased are taken into consideration.
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