The first anniversary of the 26/11 terror attack is drawing closer, but Harishchandra Shrivardhankar’s hopes of being compensated for the injuries he sustained in the attack are diminishing. The Bombay high court on Friday directed Shrivardhankar to move the appropriate government forum to seek compensation for his injuries and disposed of his petition.
“The court said that he should first approach the state government. If his grievances were not addressed, he would have the liberty to move the high court with a fresh application,” additional public prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh said.
Shrivardhankar’s petition stated that he ran into a terrorist — Abu Ismail — at the Cama Hospital while taking a shortcut from Dhobi Talao to the CST on the night of 26/11. The petitioner added that he tried to combat the terrorist by hitting him with his bag and kicking him, but the terrorist pulled out a knife and slashed his throat twice. He also shot him twice in the back. Shrivaedhankar was unable to talk for 15 days, and spent almost two months at JJ and GT hospitals.
Justice BH Marlapalle and justice RY Ganoo said that he should first approach the proper government authority. “If we grant compensation in one case, it will open the floodgates for several other such victims,” justice Marlapalle said. There cannot be a blanket direction for granting adequate compensation to the 26/11 victims, the court said. “Of course we sympathise with the victims, but you have to strengthen our hands to grant you relief,” justice Ganoo said.
Shrivardhankar received a compensation of Rs50,000 from the collector and Rs1 lakh from the prime minister’s relief fund, but felt they were not adequate. So, he moved court, seeking Rs10 lakh in compensation.
