The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government to deposit ₹3.60 crore in the court’s registry for failing to pay compensation to victims of human rights violations, as earlier ordered by the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC).

A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad also asked the Chief Secretary to appoint a nodal officer to ensure that the compensation is promptly disbursed to the affected persons.

The court said, “We propose to issue a direction to the Principal Secretary, Home Department, Government of Maharashtra to deposit a sum of Rs. 3.60 crores with the office of this Court within next two weeks, appropriate arrangements for that shall be made forthwith.”

“However, before that the Chief Secretary in coordination with the Principal Secretary, Home and General Administration Departments, Government of Maharashtra shall appoint a Nodal Officer who shall ensure that notices to all the victims/legal heirs of the victims etc. are served within next 10 days through all available electronic modes in addition to personal service to them," the judges stated in their order.

Facts:

The order was passed during hearings on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by Advocate Satyam Surana. The PIL highlighted the Maharashtra government’s failure to follow compensation directions issued by the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) in cases of human rights violations.

Through an RTI application filed with the MSHRC in March 2025, Surana found that the commission had made around 180 compensation recommendations to the state between 2013 and 2025, but the compliance rate was only about 25%.

After the court sought the state’s response on December 12, 2025, the bench examined the issue in detail. On January 27, Additional Government Pleader BV Samant informed the court that the state had complied with 15 additional recommendations. However, Surana pointed out that nearly ₹3.40 crore was still unpaid to several victims.

Taking note of this, the court directed the deposit of funds and adjourned the matter to February 17.

Case Detail: Satyam Atul Surana vs State of Maharashtra (PIL. 118 of 2025)