The Allahabad High Court mandated the State to offer a compensation of Rs 1 to Senior Advocate Dr. Ashok Nigam as a symbolic gesture of reverence. This decision arises from a case seeking reparation for lawyers who were subjected to police brutality during a peaceful protest in 2004.
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UP: The Allahabad High Court has directed the State to provide a compensation of Rs 1 to Senior Advocate Dr. Ashok Nigam as a symbolic gesture of respect in a case stemming from the 2004 police assault on lawyers during a peaceful demonstration. The petition, initiated by Dr. Nigam in 2007, sought restitution for the injured legal practitioners and demanded appropriate action against the involved police personnel.
Dr. Nigam, a prominent figure in legal circles, was himself a victim of the police brutality during the aforementioned incident. Reflecting on the protracted nature of the case, the division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Om Prakash Shukla, during proceedings on March 20, inquired about the compensation expectations of the senior counsel.
Responding with dignity, Dr. Nigam expressed readiness to accept any compensation determined by the Court, emphasizing that the struggle primarily aimed at upholding the dignity of lawyers. In response to his stance, the Court issued the following directive:
“Looking into the seniority stature and respect Dr. Ashok Nigam, learned Senior Advocate/petitioner commands as a token of respect, we direct respondents to pay Rs.1/- as compensation to the petitioner.”
The court order also acknowledged Dr. Nigam’s position as the Chairman of the Elders Committee and his significant role as a leading legal professional at the Lucknow bench.
A Commission, led by a retired judge, had previously been appointed to investigate the police actions, ultimately recommending the closure of the case due to the passage of time. However, in 2020, the Court took a different stance, highlighting that the allegations involved severe beatings inflicted upon lawyers by the police during a peaceful demonstration, indicating that closure was inappropriate.
“It is not only to maintain discipline in the administration and police personnel, who acted mercilessly resulting in multiple fractures to many advocates apart from serious injuries,”
-the Court asserted in its 2020 observation.
Nevertheless, in a recent development, the Court decided to conclude the matter with Dr. Nigam’s consent, marking the end of a long-standing legal battle that sought justice for the victims of the 2004 incident.
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