GUWAHATI, July 6 � The Gauhati High Court, in a recent judgment, has pulled up the State Government for delaying payment of ex-gratia to the wife of Gandhiram Rongpi, a resident of Azara area, who was killed by a wild elephant on his way back home.
The Court of Justice Hrishikesh Roy also directed the Government to pay Rs 1 lakh as ex-gratia to the deceased�s widow who was initially paid Rs 40,000, which the Court ruled as unjust keeping in view the delay in the release of the amount.
The prosecution although sought to justify the release of the earlier amount stating that the enhanced amount of ex-gratia would be applicable only after March 6, 2010, the Court refused to buy the argument.
The ex-gratia amount, it needs mention, was enhanced from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1, 00,000 through a notification dated March 6, 2010 while Rongpi was killed in April 27, 2007.
While advocates R Devi, Anup Ranjan and Smita Deka appeared on behalf of the petitioner, HM Phukan was the public prosecutor.
