New Delhi, November 10th, 2010
Sanjib Kumar Mandal, aged 30 years, and an employee of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited in Haldia, West Bengal, went missing from the Hospital of the company on the 18th December, 2004, where he was admitted for the treatment of fever. His father filed a complaint in the Commission in this regard.

The Commission on consideration of the material on record provided by the India Oil Corporation in response to its notices observed that prima facie it was the negligence of the hospital of the company from where Sanjib went missing.

The company denied any negligence on the part of its hospital and informed that an adhoc amount of rupees four thousand per month, i.e., 40 per cent of the last drawn salary of Sanjib was sanctioned to his wife Surbhi Mandal w.e.f. March, 2007. In addition an amount of rupees sixteen thousand as cost of transportation of house hold goods from Haldia Refinery Township to his native place was also sanctioned, but this was received back undelivered with the remarks that the addressee had died.

Subsequent to this, the company in an inquiry also found that Surbhi Mandal died an unnatural death on the 2nd January, 2009, and the local police had registered a case under the Dowry Prohibition Act against the parents of Sanjib Mandal on the complaint of the brother of the deceased.

The Commission desisted from recommending payment of any compensation to the parents of Sanjib as they were involved in dowry death case of his wife. However, with the help of the local police authorities, the Commission got traced out the minor son of the deceased.

The Commission on the 1st November, 2010 recommended that the Indian Oil Corporation pay compensation of rupees fifty thousand to the minor son of Sanjib Kumar Mandal who is now six years old and residing with his grandfather Chitta Ranjan Mandal in village Tarana, District Mayurbhanj, Orissa, and facing trial under the Dowry Prohibition Act. The compensation amount shall be kept in a fix deposit in a bank, which Sriman Shibasis Mandal, the minor son of the deceased shall be entitled to withdraw on attaining the age of 18 years.

However, his grandfather can withdraw the monthly interest accrued on the fixed deposit for the welfare of Sriman. The Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation has been directed to submit the compliance report along with the proof of payment within six weeks.
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