Taking up a public interest litigation seeking higher compensation for victims of a fire accident that happened on May 8 in Vadapalani, the Madras High Court has issued notice to the State government and posted the matter after two weeks.
The Vacation Bench, comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and M. Govindaraj, sought a reply from the State and the Government Pleader M.K. Subramanian.
The PIL seeking higher compensation for Vadapalani fire victims was filed by social activist ‘Traffic’ K.R. Ramaswamy praying that the compensation amount be increased to ₹10 lakh to each of the kin of the deceased since the sum of ₹1 lakh announced by the State government was too less.
He had also sought that the sum be recovered from the owner of the sealed building and officials of various departments who knew that the building was an illegal construction. This, he said, would be a lesson for officials to be vigilant in their duty and prevent further violations.
Four persons, including two children, had died in the fire that broke out reportedly due to a short-circuit. Five injured persons were admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for treatment.
