Click to play videoGhimunani (Orissa): Thirty-two-year-old Pratap Naik has spent about a quarter of his lifetime in prison, for no fault of his.
An accused in murder case, Naik was acquitted by the Orissa High Court in 1994. But his release came nine years later in 2003.
The court has decided the government must pay him eight lakh rupees as compensation for those nine years that he lost. For Naik, who is rebuilding life brick by brick, the money is Godsend.
“I will rebuilt my house and marry and start cultivation after getting back my land, I will also get treated. I felt sad for being illegally imprisoned. The eight lakh rupees will be great help for me,” says Naik.
At the time of release, Naik was suffering from schizophrenia so the road to his recovery has been long and tough for his family.
Says Naik’s mother, Sebati, “The government will give eight lakh rupees but can that cannot return my son's nine years, which ruined his life.”
The release would not have been possible but for the efforts of a lawyer who filed a PIL in the High Court after he heard about Naik's nine-year illegal detention.
"It is a classic instance of justice delayed not denied. After thirteen years justice been done to Pratap, who is a victim of illegal detention for nine years, even after being acquittal by no less than Honourable High Court and Supreme Court. When I came to know about the incident I took a vow of justice for Paratap so I moved to High court and Supreme Court. Now I get immense satisfaction from the fact that ultimately people’s faith on judiciary has been restored," says lawyer, Prabir Kumar Das.
While the compensation money comes as big help to Naik and his family, it can never buy him the time he lost in the jail at the very prime of his youth nor undo the damage caused to his mind and heart.
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