Harni lake boat tragedy SC orders immediate pay out of rs 1 12 crore compensation

Harni lake boat tragedy SC orders immediate pay out of ₹1.12 crore compensation

The Supreme Court has directed the immediate disbursal of over ₹1.12 crore in compensation to the families of 14 victims who died in the Harni Lake boat tragedy in Vadodara on January 18, 2024. The apex court instructed the Deputy Collector of Vadodara to ensure the funds, already deposited by contractor M/s Kotia Projects, are distributed within six weeks.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 12 schoolchildren and two teachers during a school excursion. A bench comprising Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice K V Viswanathan took note of the funds available with the Deputy Collector and directed that compensation be paid without delay.

Breakdown of compensation and pending liability

The ₹1.12 crore refers to the portion of compensation that the court has asked to be disbursed immediately. In its submission, M/s Kotia Projects stated that it had already deposited ₹3,81,88,664 along with an additional ₹30,34,880—bringing the total to ₹4,12,23,544—with the Deputy Collector of Vadodara. The company also informed the court that it had no objection to this amount being released to the families of the deceased.

The total compensation awarded by the Gujarat High Court earlier this year is significantly higher—estimated at approximately ₹3.5 to ₹4 crore. That liability is still under review by the Supreme Court as part of the contractor’s challenge to the high court order. The apex court has not yet ruled on whether the remaining compensation must be paid in full or in part.

The compensation orders and payments so far are summarised below:

Component	Amount (₹)	Status	Order by
Initial deposit by M/s Kotia Projects	3,81,88,664	Already deposited	Reported in SC filing
Additional deposit by M/s Kotia Projects	30,34,880	Already deposited	Reported in SC filing
Total amount to be disbursed immediately	Over 1.12 crore	To be paid within 6 weeks	Supreme Court (July 2025)
Total compensation ordered by Gujarat HC	Approx. 3.5–4 crore	Liability under challenge	Gujarat High Court (Feb 2025)
Instalment scheme ordered by HC	25% by Mar 31, 2025; rest monthly	Not yet executed	Gujarat High Court

While the company has deposited over ₹4.12 crore, the Supreme Court has only cleared ₹1.12 crore for immediate disbursal—likely because this amount pertains to the confirmed compensation for the 14 deceased victims. The remaining funds remain with the Deputy Collector, pending further proceedings, including unresolved claims involving survivors, questions over the role of insurers or joint venture partners, and the final outcome of the contractor’s appeal.

Contractor challenges Gujarat HC ruling

Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had held M/s Kotia Projects liable for the deaths and directed the company to pay compensation in instalments—25% by 31 March 2025 and the remaining amount through monthly payments. The contractor filed a review petition, which was dismissed, and subsequently moved the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition.

While hearing the petition, the Supreme Court issued notices to the concerned parties and granted a temporary stay on the high court's order. However, it accepted the contractor’s submission that the amount already deposited could be paid to the victims’ families.

Insurance claim and joint venture partners under review

The apex court also allowed M/s Kotia Projects to move the Gujarat High Court to include its joint venture partners and the insurance company as co-respondents in the pending public interest litigation. If the company files such an application, the high court is required to permit their inclusion.

The contractor had previously argued that the Harni Lake boat was insured and the insurer should share the liability. However, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate had rejected this request. The Gujarat High Court had also held that any internal disputes between joint venture partners or the existence of insurance coverage do not affect the contractor’s legal responsibility for the deaths.

Government cites Motor Vehicles Act in absence of specific law

The Gujarat government informed the Supreme Court that there is no specific law governing compensation for deaths in boat accidents. As a result, compensation amounts were calculated using analogous provisions from the Motor Vehicles Act. After considering submissions from all parties, the Supreme Court directed that the deposited funds be disbursed immediately.

Harni lake boat tragedy: SC orders immediate pay out of ₹1.12 crore compensation

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