MP: Harda Fireworks Factory Blast; HC Vacates Stay On NGT Order Over Payment Of Compensation

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The High Court, principal bench of Jabalpur, has vacated to the limited extent pertaining to the death cases in Harda fireworks factory blast on Monday. A double bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf passed the order.

At least 13 people died and 149 were injured in a massive blast followed by a fire in a firecracker factory in Harda district in the first week of February.

As per the HC order, it would be open to the petitioner to raise objection with regard to classification, genuineness of claimants/victims in respect of the injuries and the categorisation, classification and quantum to be paid to individual for loss of property and destruction of houses and displacement.

In case, such an objection is raised by the petitioner, the NGT shall consider the same in accordance with the law. The interim order dated April 23, 2024, staying disbursal of the amount is modified and vacated to the limited extent pertaining to the death cases.

It would be open to the administration to disburse the death compensation as directed by the NGT. Further, it would be open to the NGT to consider disbursal of the amount in respect of injury cases and cases pertaining to loss to property and displacement of individuals, taking into consideration the objection of the petitioner, if any raised before the NGT.

On February 6, 2024, the NGT had ordered the factory owners to deposit an amount at the rate of Rs 15 lakh for each death and Rs 5 lakh for grievous injuries for interim compensation to the victims, holding that giving the owners a chance of hearing is imperative, but a minimum interim relief must reach the affected persons.

The NGT had asked the factory owners to deposit the amount within 10 days and said the district collector could resort to coercive methods to recover the amount if it's not voluntarily deposited but the amount of interim relief should be disbursed within a month even if meant using the state funds before recovering the same from owners of the factory.

The district administration issued notices to the accused to deposit the amounts for compensating the victims as per the NGT orders. When the accused failed to do so, the administration attached the properties and the first auction of the properties was done on April 3, Rs 2.65 crore was raised.