India’s Supreme Court Chief Justice has ordered that adequate compensation has not yet been paid to the victims – in 2008 – of religiously-motivated violence by Hindus against Christians in the Kandhamal district of Odisha (formerly Orissa), eastern India.
The success of the petition, brought by Raphel Cheenath, the local Catholic Archbishop in 2008, means that Chief Justice Thakur has ordered that the Odisha government should now arrange extra compensation for those affected.
About 100 Christians were killed, 300 churches and 6,000 Christian homes damaged and 56,000 people displaced (many until now) after the killing of a Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, on 23 August, 2008. His death sparked the worst case of anti-Christian violence in India’s history, as Hindu fundamentalists blamed Christians for the Swami’s murder.
Campaigners say the National Human Rights Commission has been “sitting for years” on the plea for enhanced compensation for the Christians – who were paid token interim compensation of $US150 to $750 for completely damaged houses.
Despite over 25 visits to government offices, Obseswar Nayak in Borimunda village, for instance, was denied the maximum compensation of Rs 50,000 ($US750) for a “fully damaged house” because “part of the wall was intact”, so he was entitled to only compensation for “partial damage”.
Another “partially damaged house” – with its first and second floor ceilings burnt – was John Pradhan’s home in Gurkapia village. Government officials listed it as “partially damaged”, adamant that “part of the wall was intact”.
Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told Fides news agency: “It is a step forward in justice for the victims of Kandhamal. It is a positive sign that the Supreme Court of India recognised as unjust compensation paid. The justice procedure is slow and inadequate, but this is a sign of hope.”
