Rs 3.5 lakh solatium for convicts widow

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has awarded a compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh to one Satyabhama Das, widow of a life convict Maheswar Das who died in jail in 1998.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra directed the State Government to pay the compensation amount within four weeks failing which the amount would carry nine per cent interest from 1998. Of the total amount, Rs 3 lakh has to be kept in fixed deposits till the children of the deceased became major.Satyabhama had filed the petition seeking a direction to the State Government to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh for custodial death of her husband due to negligence of jail authorities.As per the case records, Maheswar, who was working as a police driver, had been involved in a murder case and convicted in the crime. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. He had developed health problems in the jail and had died on August 22, 1998. His wife had levelled charges of negligence and sought an inquiry along with compensation for his death.The State Government, on the other hand, filed a counter affidavit stating therein that Maheswar had been a psychiatric patient. He had developed suicidal tendency and was under treatment. On the fateful day, he had committed suicide by hanging himself in the jail, the Government said.