Chennai: The Madras High Court has held that the journalists, who were injured during a Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) protest rally in Chennai in 2001, were entitled to adequate compensation, but rejected their plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident.

Justice V Kanagaraj, who disposed of a petition filed by nine journalists on October 11, also directed the K S Bakthavatsalam Commission of Inquiry, probing the August 12, 2001 rally at the Marina to protest the arrest of party chief M Karunanidhi and others, to submit its report within 30 days.

Upholding the constitution of such a committee by the government, he observed that the setting up of the panel was not only appropriate and legal, but also proper.

On the government's stand that some compensation had been disbursed to the injured journalists, whose property also suffered damage, Justice Kanagaraj said, "Even though some compensation had been made to some journalists, it should be borne in mind that it should not be granted for namesake."

The government could pay adequate compensation on the basis of the claims and evidence placed before it by the individual journalists. If the journalists were not satisfied with the quantum, they could approach the High Court again, the Judge said.

PTI