The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the Delhi Development Authority to pay Rs.20 lakh as compensation to the family of a mother and her 3-year-old son who tragically drowned in an open, waterlogged drain in July.
Initially, the DDA’s counsel offered Rs 15 lakh as compensation, but the bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan urged them to increase the amount to Rs 20 lakh, considering it the “norm.” The DDA agreed to pay the amount as a “humanitarian gesture,” without admitting liability.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jhunnu Lal Srivastava, a local resident, seeking action against the contractor and DDA officials for negligence that led to the deaths of Tanuja (22) and her son Priyansh. They fell into the drain in the Ghazipur area during heavy rainfall on July 31.
The Delhi Police informed the court that a draft charge sheet has been prepared and the final version will be filed once they receive necessary approvals to prosecute the responsible officials. The police confirmed that the drain was left uncovered by a DDA contractor after some work at the site.
The court closed the case after noting the steps taken by the authorities but emphasized that the area still needed cleaning due to the risk of dengue spreading. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) assured the court that all repair and construction work in the area would be completed by December.
Last month, the court had criticized the DDA for not properly supervising the contractor’s work, which led to the fatal incident. An FIR has been registered under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing death by negligence.
