The Madras high court (HC) directed Joseph Eye Hospital, Trichy, on Tuesday to pay Rs 1 lakh each as interim compensation to the 66 villagers who lost vision during cataract surgeries at a free eye camp it organized on July 29, 2008.
The order was passed on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Human Rights Protection Centre.
A division bench of Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and justice T.S. Sivagnanam said the money should be paid within two months and that it would hear the PIL again after eight weeks.
The bench had ordered a CBI probe into the incident on March 10. It had directed the agency to fix responsibility and initiate criminal prosecution proceedings against the accused.
The bench said on Tuesday CBI had filed its final report and charge-sheeted seven accused.
It said the matter was pending before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM), Trichy, who was expected to take it up and proceed in accordance with law.
Five of the 66 victims subsequently died and one went missing, HC said, adding that the state government had already paid Rs 1 lakh each to their kin.
The bench said, “What should be the just and reasonable compensation is yet to be decided. This court, by an order dated July 7, 2010, has already observed that the ophthalmology department has examined all victims and the records are now available with the authorities."
"Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmology hospital, Chennai, were directed to examine the records and assist the court in arriving at a just and reasonable compensation."
“Pending a final decision, Joseph Eye Hospital shall pay to all victims an interim compensation of `1 lakh per patient within two months. The victims shall be identified by CJM, Trichy. In respect of victims who have died, the amount shall be paid to legal heirs, preferably widows.”