While setting aside the orders of the Assistant Conservator of Forest, the Bombay High Court division bench comprising Justices Rohit Deo and Vrushali Joshihas awarded Rs. 1 lakh compensation to a woman for the trauma of surviving a tiger attack.

Further, the Court expressed shock at the casual manner in which forest officials wrote off the bravery awardee’s wounds as ‘simple injuries.’

“We are shocked with the decision taken by the Assistant Conservator of Forrest considering the injuries sustained in Tiger attack as simple injuries and calculating the amount of Rs.10,000/- towards compensation when the Government has honoured her by giving Bravery Certificate.”

Case Brief -

The incident took place back in 2017, Kavita Kokode, a farmer in Chandrapur District in Maharashtra went to collect Tur seeds when she was attacked by a fully grown tiger and was seriously injured. She was helped by some other labourers and spent over four days in the hospital.

Kokode claimed that she has become mentally disturbed because of the tiger attack, unable to perform any professional or even household work. Her right hand is severely affected and she is unable to get any work done.

Later, the Victim filed an application with the forest department and received compensation of Rs. 10,000. Her wounds were categorised as simple injuries. She assailed this compensation amount before the High Court.

The counsel of the Victim submitted that it was the forest department’s duty to protect the lives of innocent people residing in nearby villages and to compensate the injured.

Moreover, the Government had given the petitioner a Bravery Certificate for fighting off the fully-grown Tiger.

After analysing the whole matter, the Court in its order said -

“Considering the trauma received by her without considering the nature of injury whether simple or grievous, the respondents should have to consider the attack by the wild animal that too the Tiger, she is entitled to receive Rs.1,00,000/- as per the Government Resolution,” the bench said.