Karnataka High Court orders interim compensation scheme for mob lynching victims

The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to formulate a scheme for granting interim compensation to victims of mob lynching or their next of kin within three months, and file a compliance report. The court also ordered that victim or their kin must be notified before bail is granted to accused in such cases.

Justice Vijaykumar A. Patil found the existing government order lacks provision for interim relief as mandated by the Supreme Court in Tehseen S Poonawalla v. Union of India. The court issued directions to the Registrar and Principal District Judges to raise objections if the victim is not made a party in mob violence cases.

The order came while dismissing multiple bail cancellation pleas for accused in a Mangaluru lynching case, where a Kerala ragpicker was killed after allegedly chanting pro-Pakistan slogans during a cricket tournament. The court declined to cancel bail, noting charge sheets were filed and a coordinate bench had granted bail to other accused on similar facts.