( 1 ) THIS Letters Patent Appeal filed by the State of Gujarat on 19th June, 1997 is directed against the judgment and order dated 21-2-1997 passed by the learned single Judge in Special Criminal Application No. 101 of 1996 (reported in 1997 (2) GLR 1043) whereby a direction was given for payment of a sum of Rs. 2 lacs to the original petitioner, i. e. , Dharmistaben Narendrasinh rana, as a measure of interim compensation.

( 2 ) THE facts of the present case depict a dismal story of the death of Shri narendrasinh Rana who was working as an Assistant Intelligence Officer in the establishment of Intelligence of the Police Department. At the relevant time, he was posted as Assistant Intelligence Officer at Lunawada, District Panchmahals, at Godhra. An application dated llth January/19th January, 1996 addressed to the Chief Justice of this Court by one Dharmistaben, i. e. , wife of deceased narendrasinh Rana was received by post with the prayer that for the facts, reasons and grounds stated in the application, a high level inquiry be ordered in the matter of death of her husband. On 24th January, 1996, the Joint Registrar of this Court made a submission on the basis of t