Tutumoni Neog v. The State of Assam and 4 Ors

O R D E R

14.08.2024

Heard Mr. W. Rahman, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner. Also heard Mr. B. J. Talukdar, the learned Senior Government Advocate, Assam appearing on behalf of the State respondents and Ms. P.R. Mahanta, the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue Department, Government of Assam.

¶2The petitioner herein has approached this Court being aggrieved by the inaction on the part of the respondent authorities in releasing the ex-gratia amount of Rs.2,00,000/- in terms with the Notification dated

15.11.2014.

¶3This Court duly takes note of the materials on record including the FIR which has been filed. In the said FIR, it is seen that a car bearing Registration No.AS-07-2483 had hit the husband of the petitioner from the back side and, thereupon, the husband of the petitioner succumbed to the injuries and expired. Page No.# 3/4

¶4This Court takes note of the judgment passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court dated 21.06.2024 in the case of Monisa Khatun @ Monisha Khatun Vs. the State of Assam and 5 Ors. (WP(C)No.2700/2023). In the said judgment, the Coordinate Bench of this Court categorically held that the Notification dated 15.11.2014 cannot be read to be applicable in respect to all accidents except hit and run case where the offending vehicle remain unidentified in the Final Form after the police investigation. Paragraph Nos.16 and 17 of the said judgment being relevant are reproduced hereinunder: "16) The question is whether petitioner is entitled for ex gratia compensation under notification dated 15.11.2014, when just and fair compensation for accident involving motor vehicle accident can be otherwise claimed before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. 17) The notification dated 15.11.2014, envisaging grant of compensation is found to be relatable to provide ex gratia and financial assistance to the persons who were killed/ injured due to extremist violence/ terrorist violence/ acts of miscreant/ communal violence/ ethnic violence/ group-clash/ firing of security forces/ accident, etc., who were kidnapped/ abducted by the extremist/ terrorist/ miscreants and whose dwelling houses are fully burnt/ damaged whether due to acts of extremist/ terrorist/ miscreants or during communal violence/ ethnic violence/ group clash. Therefore, accident must be in connection with acts committed by extremist, terrorist, or miscreants, or accidents arising out of group clash, communal violence, and ethnic violence. The said notification dated 15.11.2014, cannot be read as if all persons suffering from any accident except hit and run case where the offending vehicle remain unidentified in the Final Form after police investigation, would become entitled to ex gratia where other statutory remedy is available."

¶5Taking into account the above proposition as laid down by the Page No.# 4/4 Coordinate Bench and the fact that the vehicle in question which had caused the accident has been duly identified, the petitioner herein would not be entitled to the benefit in terms with the Notification dated

15.11.2014. Be that as it may, this Court observes that the instant order shall not preclude the petitioner to avail other statutory remedies as provided under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

¶6Accordingly, the instant writ petition stands disposed of.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/4 GAHC010245162023 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oWP(C)/6385/2023o TUTUMONIoNEOGo W/O-oLATEoSOMESWARoNEOG,o VILL-oKHALIHAMARIoPATHAR,oNAOBAICHA,o P.S-oNORTHoLAKHIMPUR,o DIST-oLAKHIMPUR,oASSAM,oPIN-787053 VERSUSo THEoSTATEoOFoASSAMoANDo4oORSo REP.oBYoCOMMISSIONERoANDoSECRETARYoTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAM,o DEPARTMENToOFoREVENUEo(RELIEFoANDoREHABILITATION)oANDo DISASTERoMANAGEMENToDEPARTMENTo,oDISPUR,oGUWAHATIo781006. 2:THEoCOMMISSIONERoANDoSECRETARY oTOoTHEoGOVT.oOFoASSAM oDEPARTMENToOFoFINANCEo oDISPUR oGUWAHATIo781006. 3:THEoDEPUTYoCOMMISSIONER oLAKHIMPUR oNORTHoLAKHIMPUR oASSAM oPIN-787001 4:THEoSUPERINTENDENToOFoPOLICE oLAKHIMPUR oNORTHoLAKHIMPUR oASSAM oPIN-787001 Page No.# 2/4 5:THE CIRCLE OFFICER NAOBAICHA REVENUE CIRCLE P.S- NORTH LAKHIMPUR DIST- LAKHIMPUR PIN-787023 ASSA For the petitioner (s) : Mr. W. Rahman, Advocate For the respondent (s) : Ms. P. R. Mahanta, SC, Revenue Mr. B. J. Talukdar, Sr. Govt. Advocate BEFORE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH