Pay compensation to Nandigram victims: SC

New Delhi, Dec 13: The Supreme Court today declined to stay the directions of the Calcutta High Court to the West Bengal goverment to pay compensation to the victims of Nandigram police firing on March 14 this year.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal, however, directed CBI not to initiate any criminal proceeding against any police officers in the court till further order. The apex court while fixing January 28, 2008 as the next date of hearing, also issued notices to the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights, Kedar Nath Yadav, one of the petitioners, Central Goverment and CBI and other on the petition filed by the state of West Bengal against the High Court order dated November 26, 2007.

Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati told the apex court that CBI has already completed the investigation and is going to submit the status report in the High Court on December 17.

UNI