Written by Sohini GhoshNew Delhi | September 27, 2025 05:25 AM IST 3 min readLast November, the petitioners had submitted before HC that of the around Rs 153 crore claimed by 1,731 victims before NEDRCC, the commission had in July 2024 recommended the disbursal of only about Rs 21 crore (Archive)As 2020 Northeast Delhi riot victims told the Delhi High Court on Friday that the government has “not released a single penny” of the compensation the North East Delhi Riots Claim Commission (NEDRCC) had recommended for them, the government informed that it has moved an application seeking recall of the HC’s January order that had directed for the disbursal of the same within eight weeks.The HC on January 15 had directed then AAP government to release the amount recommended by NEDRCC for victims who have moved petitions before HC since 2020 seeking compensation.Through its recall application, the Delhi government is effectively seeking that the January 15 order be set aside.It is learnt that the Delhi government is seeking the order’s recall primarily on the ground that its counsel, who had appeared before the court at the time, had conceded to the petitioners’ request seeking directions for disbursal, without taking instructions from the government.The court will hear the matter next on November 12.In its January 15 order, which was issued after the HC heard a batch of 19 petitions, the court recorded that the NEDRCC “has rendered findings and made recommendations qua the claims in respect of 14 out of present batch of 19 petitions”.The petitioners had at the time emphasised that although the amount recommended by NEDRCC “is a fraction of what the petitioners in these cases are entitled, at the very least, directions should be issued to GNCTD for release of the recommended amount at the earliest”.The HC, while issuing the direction, had recorded that the petitioners’ request “is not opposed” by the Delhi government, following which the court went on to direct the government to disburse the amount.Story continues below this adLast November, the petitioners had submitted before HC that of the around Rs 153 crore claimed by 1,731 victims before NEDRCC, the commission had in July 2024 recommended the disbursal of only about Rs 21 crore. At that time too, relying on a July 15, 2020 NEDRCC report, the petitioners had highlighted before the court that the amount recommended for disbursal has not yet been released, even more than four years after the riots took place.The Delhi government’s counsel had then informed HC that though the sub-divisional magistrate’s office had analysed the data in the NEDRCC report, it is finding it difficult to give its comments on the recommendations in the absence of an estimation of the compensation already paid to the victims by the government. The Delhi government had in March 2020 announced its own scheme to provide compensation to the victims.The HC in May 2020 had appointed Justice Sunil Gaur (retd) as Claims Commissioner to estimate the damage caused to public property during the riots and arrive at a compensation amount for the same. On August 22, the court had issued a notice inviting applications from retired HC and district court judges for appointment as Claims Commissioner of NEDRCC “to estimate the damages and investigate liability”. The deadline to submit applications was September 8.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Northeast Delhi riots