IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.20104 of 2008 (O&M) Date of decision: 5th November, 2009 Devinder Singh and others … Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others … Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Sunil Chadha, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, Addl. AG Punjab for the respondents. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) Civil Misc. No. 18111 of 2009 Issue notice of application to counsel for the non-applicant(s). On the asking of Court, Mr.Anil Kumar Sharma, Additional Advocate General, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondents and states that he has no objection in case the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Patiala are impleaded as respondents No.4 to 6. Accordingly, the present CM application is allowed. Civil Writ Petition No. 20104 of 2008 15 persons, who claim themselves to be 1984 riot victims, have approached this Court with a prayer that the Punjab Government is denying them the relief, which is due to them as per the rehabilitation Civil Writ Petition No.20104 of 2008 (O&M) package announced by the Central Government. Petitioners have averred that they are migrants from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The riots, which took place in 1984, forced them to leave their native place and migrate to Punjab. They lost their moveable and immoveable property and had to make a new beginning in the State of Punjab, where they sought refuge. Counsel for the petitioners has relied upon Annexure P-1, which contains rehabilitation package announced by the Central Government. The rehabilitation package states that in pursuance of assurances given by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, taking into consideration report of Nanawati Commission, assistance is to be provided to the victims of 1984 riots and ex-gratia grant is to be sanctioned in their favour. Petitioners have stated that despite active steps taken by the Central Government to provide solace and balm to the victims, due to apathy on the part of various Deputy Commissioners of State of Punjab, they are not being provided much needed succor. Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, appearing for the State of Punjab, to controvert the assertions made in the writ petition, has stated that State of Punjab is always ready and willing to disburse the amount provided by the Central Government. Counsel for the petitioners has stated that qua petitioner No.1, present petition has been rendered infructuous. A perusal of the scheme shows that the expenditure for the benefits to be extended to the riot victims, is to be borne by the Central Government through the State Government, as the verification is to be carried by concerned Deputy Commissioners. Since, Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma has expressed willingness of the State Government to consider the cases of riot victims sympathetically, present writ petition is disposed of with the direction to the respondent Deputy Commissioners that on 2 Civil Writ Petition No.20104 of 2008 (O&M) receipt of a representation by each of the petitioner, along with the necessary documents, the claim of each petitioner will be considered by the concerned Deputy Commissioner by passing a well reasoned and speaking order, taking into consideration the evidence produced by each petitioner. Needless to say, each petitioner shall also be afforded an opportunity of hearing. The concerned Deputy Commissioner shall complete this exercise within three months after receipt of application from the petitioner. The application shall also be accompanied by the certified copy of this order. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE November 5, 2009 rps 3