Notice to state, Union govts on petition by Malleswaram blast victim

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday issued notice to the state and Central governments in a contempt petition filed by Leesha, the Malleswaram blast victim, who became disabled after the blast.

Leesha had filed a contempt petition against the state and the Central governments for not complying with the high court orders which had directed the state government to provide a government job and to the Central government to increase the compensation amount from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The court issued directions in October, 2016 to comply with the orders in three months.

Though the chief minister had put a note for placing the matter before the Cabinet, no action has been taken so far. The court had also directed the Centre and the state governments to formulate a scheme or legislation to issue compensation to terror victims taking reference from the schemes available in other parts of the world, especially the UK and the USA. A division bench comprising Justice Jayant Patel and Justice N K Sudhindra Rao, issued notice to the state home secretary and to the Union home secretary and adjourned the next hearing to July 6.