Ranchi, March 26: Twenty-four years after the Sikh riots, victims and their families belonging to the state would receive compensation.

The Union government today told the Jharkhand High Court that all victims of the 1984 Sikh riots would be eligible to receive compensation.

The high court, while hearing a matter related to the payment of compensation to the victims of the 1984 carnage, had directed both the state and Union governments to give an update on the matter.

Though the Centre had not filed any affidavit before the court, it said that it has received instructions and it would furnish the details on the next date.

The high court will take up the matter again on April 3.

The counsel for the Union government told the division bench that all such victims who have been identified would be duly compensated.

The package would be paid by the state government to the beneficiaries in the first instance and later reimbursed by the Centre, the counsel said.

The counsel, however, pointed out that only those who have stayed back in the state after the riots would be eligible to receive the rehabilitation package.

The case was first filed by Bhajan Kaur, a 1984 riot victim, in the Delhi High Court for providing compensation to the bereaved family members. The Delhi High Court had then directed the state to pay Rs 2 lakh with interest to all those whose family members had died in the violence.

Rajya Sabha member S.S. Ahluwalia had then moved the Supreme Court in a PIL requesting the apex court to ensure that the order passed by the Delhi High Court be implemented by all the high courts.

Meanwhile, the Union government, based on the reports of the Nanawati Commission, has prepared a package of Rs 714.76 crore. This includes payment of Rs 3.5 lakh in case of death, Rs 1.25 lakh for injuries and a government or police job for the survivors. In case of damage of property and business, 10 times the value would be reimbursed.