Naxal's mother to receive interest on compensation

CHENNAI: Twenty nine years after her son Seeralan, a naxalite, died in police custody, 75-year-old Baggiam Duraisamy is set to get Rs. 1.2 lakh towards interest for the compensation paid by the government.

The government, which had rejected her compensation plea twice, deposited Rs. 1 lakh in her name following a court order.

Passing orders on her appeal against the single judge ruling, the First Bench of the Madras High Court asked the government to pay Rs. 1.2 lakh within four weeks. It observed that the acquittal of police personnel charged with the murder of Seeralan would not disentitle her from claiming interest for the compensation.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru observed that the single judge should have ordered the compensation either from Seeralan's date of death or the date of her claim.