The Madras High Court, while confirming the life term awarded to the accused who murdered a Sub-Inspector of Police in Valasaravakkam in 2013, directed the State government to pay Rs three lakh as compensation to the victim’s family.
“Unfortunately, in this case, the trial court had not made any recommendations for payment of compensation to the dependants of the deceased. He was hardly 47 at the time of his death,” a Division Bench of Justices S. Nagamuthu and V. Bharathidasan said.
According to the prosecution, on January 17, 2013, the victim Kathiresan was on duty on Arcot road, Valasaravakkam.
On seeing Murugan (the accused) quarrelling with another person near a tea stall, the police officer rushed to intercept them.
Agitated over the action of the officer, Murugan came back with a wooden log and attacked Kathiresan on his head.
The accused ran away from the scene, leaving the wooden log.
Soon, passersby rushed the officer to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on January 28, 2013.
Conviction
Concluding the trial, the III Additional District and Sessions Judge, Thiruvallur convicted the accused under sections 294 (b) (Obscene acts), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and 302 (Murder) of IPC.
Through an order dated March 19, 2015, the trial court sentenced him to life term.
Minimum punishment
Assailing the order, the accused moved the present appeal before the High Court. Noting that the trial court has imposed only a minimum punishment, which does not warrant any interference, the Bench said, “We do not find any merit at all in this appeal.”
Before parting with the appeal, the Bench pointed out that the State government and the trial court had failed to provide any compensation to the victim’s family.
The judges directed the State government to compensate them from the Victim Compensation Fund created as per the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Scheme.
The court directed the government to pay Rs. 3 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family
