CW-2025-0075Sonitpur, AssamJudgment 23 January 2025

Sonitpur Man vs The State of Assam and Ors

The High Court held that the petitioner, a bystander near a road-accident protest site, suffered a bullet injury when the police opened fire. The High Court held that the firing was done without warning or superior orders and amounted to gross state violence. The High Court directed the respondent authorities to pay Rs.5,00,000 compensation in exercise of public-law jurisdiction. The High Court made clear the award was in addition to any other legal remedy available to the petitioner.

Externally reportedV2
What this record means

This page documents a court-adjudicated case from the judgment and cited sources below. Findings are attributed to the court; this record does not add findings of its own.

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Report card

By judgment dated 23 January 2025 in WP(C)/6349/2017, the The Gauhati High Court (Coram: Kardak Ete, J.) returned findings adverse to the police personnel, Mahabhairab police outpost / Assam Police, Tezpur, and directed payment of compensation of Rs 5 lakh (Rs 5,00,000).

Register number
AS 12 CW 0001
Case reference
WP(C)/6349/2017 / 2025:GAU-AS:711
Court and date
The Gauhati High Court (Coram: Kardak Ete, J.), 23 January 2025
Officer(s) at the material time
police personnel, Mahabhairab police outpost / Assam Police, Tezpur
Present service status
Not ascertained from the cited sources.
Provisions invoked
Not stated in the cited sources
Finding of the Court (extract)
“I am inclined to direct that petitionerbe paid an amount of Rs. 5,00,000/- (Rupees five lakhs) only as compensation.” (at para Para 24)
Verdict, sentence and quantum
Adverse finding + compensation. Sentence: compensation only. Compensation: Rs 5 lakh (Rs 5,00,000).
Present status of the proceedings
The judgment is recent and may be subject to appeal; the pendency of an appeal is not a finding.

Compiled from the judgment and the cited sources. Findings are those of the court; this card adds none of its own.

Judgment dated 23 January 2025. This judgment may still be subject to appeal; initiation or pendency of an appeal is not a finding.

Recorded allegations

1
OtherPrimary
Material fact supported

Reliable material supports a specifically documented fact relevant to that allegation, not necessarily the full allegation, causation, intent, unlawfulness, or responsibility.

Official finding: supports allegation.

What the court found

Holding not recorded separately.

“I am inclined to direct that petitionerbe paid an amount of Rs. 5,00,000/- (Rupees five lakhs) only as compensation.” (para Para 24)

Institutional response

1
23 Jan 2025

Order issued

Concluded
The Gauhati High Court External · Binding

The The Gauhati High Court recorded adverse findings against police personnel.

adverse finding compensation.
Source: 2025:GAU-AS:711
Not yet re-checked.

Follow-up history

1
24 Sep 2026

(Swarm scout and independent verification pass (Muse Spark).)

Corrections (0): No corrections recorded.

Review: Solo Staff combined review (one combined attestation) — not yet recorded.

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