Sothing W.A Shimray
In an apparent denial of justice to the poor in a country where ‘equality before the law’ is the fundamental rights of the people, the executive of Ukhrul District in a clear violation of the judicial order of Guwahati high court denied justice to the poor man maimed by the mortal shelling practice of Assam riffle, four years ago.
The Imphal bench of Guwahati High Court, on April 12th 2002 gives ruling directing the Deputy Commisioner of Ukhrul to work out the damage done to the victim and the compensable amount So that the victim gets the necessary compensation under Maneuvers, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act 1938 which is in force in the state of Manipur. As per the Act, compensation is payable from the Defence Estimate to the person. However, the District administration in clear violation of the judicial order refuses to work out the damage and recommended the amount even till date.
The victim R. Mungkhai, 27, of Hallang village, Ukhrul District, was seriously hurts at the abdomen and leg while tending cattle’s 1 ½ kms away from the field firing area of 20 Assam Riffle, Somsai, when a mortar from the firing practice of the Assam Riffle explode near him. As per the Maneuver Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act 1938, necessary notification is to be made by the concern Assam Riffle authority to the adjoining villages so as to avoid unnecessary incident. But that day as there was no notification and as the incident happened beyond 1 ½ kms from the Field Firing Area, the Imphal Bench of Guwahati High Court, in a petition filed by the victim, give the ruling in favour of the victim .But the District Administration refuse to oblige the court order in a clear sidelining of judicially by the executive. H.R.Mungkhai, father of three children was the sole bread earner of the family. After the incident, the family is living in a nightmare of poverty, apparently created by the district administration of Ukhrul, as he can no longer work properly.
