This petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India has been filed for issuance of a writ directing the respondent to pay compensation for the loss of life of the husband of the petitioner, who was done to death by respondent no. 2, Bishwanath Mishra and respondent no. 3, Ram Niwas Kunwar.

2. In. order to appreciate the contention raised by the parties, it may be useful to notice the broad facts of the case. The petitioner is resident of Village Kasmara within Kowakole Police Station in the District of Nawadah where her husband had a grocery shop. On account of mounting tension due to apprehension of caste riot, police force was deputed in the said village to maintain law and order in the year 1984 of which the said two respondents were party. On 6.4.1984 both of them went to the said shop and asked for cigarettes.

The husband of the petitioner was not present at the shop and she was alone, there. When she wanted to hand over the cigarettes, they caught her and attempted to commit rape. On alarm raised by the petitioner, her husband appeared and picked up a knife kept in the shop for cutting GUR. In order to save his wife, Ratan Sao inflicted knife injury to on