Raiganj, Aug. 12: A court has ordered seizure of furniture in the district magistrate’s office to compensate the wife of a man crushed to death by a government vehicle seven years ago.

The motor accident claims tribunal passed the order on August 6 after the district magistrate failed to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the victim’s wife, as ordered by the tribunal earlier.

Armed with the order, the court officials visited the DM’s office on the same, but had to come away empty-handed.

In a confidential report submitted to the tribunal judge Subhash Banik, the court officials said they could not carry out the order as there was no one in the district magistrate’s office on August 6.

District magistrate Ariz Aftab was not available for comment. Other officials including the Raiganj sub-divisional officer Masir Alam refused comment.

Government pleader Pradip Kar, however, acknowledged that the court officials had failed to carry out the order.

On June 1, 1996, 34-year-old Anta Hembram was killed on National Highway 31, under Chakulia police station. He was hit by a truck (WML 1351) of the relief department, Kar said.

A complaint (No 53/96) was filed at the Chakulia police station. Hemrbram’s widow Phoolmoni Baske demanded Rs 2 lakh as compensation. The case came up for hearing on December 23, 1996. “The state government was represented by North Dinajpur district magistrate and the directorate of relief in the case that continued for five years,” Kar said.

According to the ruling that was passed by tribunal judge Kanchan Chatterjee on March 29 2001, the government was instructed to pay Rs 50, 000 as compensation. But since Phoolmoni did not receive the amount within three months she filed an execution case in June 2001. But this time, the government did not fight the case, which became an experte.

On November 11, 2002, the court sent a notice in registered post reminding the district administration of the compensation that was to be paid. A similar notice was also served through a messenger on November 13, 2002.

As the district administration ignored both notices, the court issued a warrant on August 6 this year to confiscate properties worth Rs 50, 000 plus an interest of 12 per cent over it for a period of two years (2001-2003) from the district magistrate’s office.

But when some officials of the court along with the complainant’s lawyer went to the district magistrate’s office on August 6, to hand over the warrant, there was nobody to receive it.

Phoolmoni’s lawyer Krishna Kamal Chowdhury said: “On august 6, I had gone to the district magistrate office. We had a warrant with us. However, since nobody agreed to receive the notice on behalf of the district administration, we had to come back. This is nop doubt a contempt of court. The court officials have submitted a report.”

The government pleader, however, had a different story. “Though the court officials had come with the warrant, the office superintendent was absent and not possible to receive the court warrant. The government had already filed a petition on August 7 asking for time. The court has granted time till September 8. We will consider the compensation during this period. But the notices were not sent through the government pleader,” Kar said.