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CJI Suryakant Latest News: Supreme Court, while providing justice to Sanyogta Devi in the 23 year old case, directed the Railways to pay compensation of ₹ 8.92 lakh. There was a long legal battle after the death of her husband in a train accident, but the compensation got stuck due to the death of the lawyer and change of address. CJI Surya Kant himself monitored and with the help of the police found out the address of the woman and ensured payment. On receiving the compensation, the CJI became emotional and said that the smile on the face of a poor person is our biggest income.
New Delhi. The smile on the face of a poor person is what we want to earn and nothing else. These poignant words of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant reflect the human sensitivity of the judiciary. The lawyer died, the address changed, yet on the strict instructions of the Railways, a widow was handed over ₹ 8.92 lakh compensation at her home for her husband’s death after 23 years. When the CJI heard that after years of struggle, a smile had finally appeared on the face of Sanyogta Devi, he expressed his feelings in the court itself. This story shows that the judiciary not only follows the law but also keeps human dignity supreme.
two decades of struggle
Sanyogta Devi’s husband Vijay Singh died tragically on 21 March 2002. He fell from the moving train due to overcrowding. After this, the legal battle continued for two decades. Railway Claim Tribunal and Patna High Court rejected his claim saying that the deceased was of unsound mind. On February 2, 2023, the Supreme Court rejected the orders of the High Court and the Tribunal, calling them completely absurd, imaginary and contrary to undisputed facts. The court said that if the deceased was of unsound mind, he would not have been able to buy the ticket himself. The court directed the Railways to pay compensation of ₹4 lakh, along with 6 percent interest from the date of filing the claim petition.
Lawyer passed away, address changed
Unfortunately, after the Supreme Court order, Sanyogta Devi’s local lawyer passed away. Also, due to family circumstances, the widow had changed her place of residence to a remote village in Bihar. Railways tried to follow the order but was not able to give compensation due to lack of correct address. Railways was forced to approach the Supreme Court and expressed its helplessness.
To ensure compensation, the bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Eastern Railway to issue a public notice. The court directed SSP Nalanda and SHO of Bakhtiyarpur to locate the woman after physical verification with the help of police and inform her about compensation. Railways later told the court that with the help of the local administration and police, they had found the exact village and address of Sanyogta Devi.
This is what we want to earn: CJI Surya Kant
Young lawyer Fauzia Shakeel represented him pro bono. He also ensured that he got compensation. In compliance with the October order, the Railways received the documents and deposited ₹8,92,953 in Sanyogta Devi’s bank account on November 13. Hearing this, CJI Surya Kant became very emotional and said, “The young lawyer ensured that he gets compensation after 23 years. The smile on the face of a poor person is what we want to earn and nothing else.”
