Rs 150,000 cannot be paid; Govt files plea against verdict to pay compensation to girl humiliated by Pink Police

KOCHI: The government appealed against the high court single bench’s order directing to pay compensation to the girl, who was humiliated by the Pink Police in Attingal, in the name of theft of a mobile phone. The appeal was filed to the division bench. The government mentioned in the appeal that the order for compensation does not exist and that they are not liable to pay compensation for personal flaws. However, the girl’s father Jayachandran said the government's decision to file an appeal was unfortunate and are hurting them. The government should have supported my child, he said.

The high court had ordered the government to pay a compensation of Rs 150,000 to the child. An amount of Rs 25,000 was also asked to pay as court expenses. Justice Devan Ramachandran had directed to take action against the official for insulting the girl. The government had taken the stand in court that they could not pay the compensation. The government’s stand was that the child had not been violated fundamental rights and was therefore not liable to the compensation.

The girl’s father had filed a plea demanding a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and action against the Pink Police official C P Rejitha for humiliating the girl openly in the name of stealing a mobile phone. The Pink Police insulted the girl, a native of Thonnakkal in Attingal and her father when they were going to see the large cargo being transported to VSSC in Thumba on August 27 in 2021. The missing phone was in the police vehicle itself.

The police official had tendered an apology following the intervention of the high court. Although Rejitha told the court that she has three children and her husband working abroad lost his job during Covid time and also has to take care of her mother-in-law, the girl’s family was not willing to accept her apology.