Kathmandu, February 28:

The Supreme Court today rejected a writ petition that was forwarded yesterday, seeking its order to the government to provide compensation to the family of Umesh Chandra Thapa and prosecute the army personnel who had shot him dead in Dang a few days ago. The seven-party alliance has declared Thapa, who was shot dead while he was taking part in a protest in Dang, a martyr.

Jagdeep Thapa, son of the late Umesh Chandra Thapa, had filed the plea seeking the apex court order to authorities, including the PMO and the Cabinet, the Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Army headquarters, to promulgate a specific law to compensate for the families of the people killed or victimised by the state. As the petitioner could not show any legal provision for compensation to the family of the victim, the petition has been rejected, SC registrar Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena said.