P. D. Desai, C.J. :- On May 22, 1986, the petitioner who is a resident of village Jangla, Pargana Panjala, District Chamba, addressed a letter to one of us (Chief Justice), which has since been registered as a writ petition, complaining that his wife, Brahmi Devi, died on October 23, 1984, while returning home in the evening, on account of being hit by a stone which rolled down from the upper side of the road, where the labourers engaged by the Public Works Department were carrying out construction work of another road. The petitioner stated that he had to look after his two minor children after the accidental death of his wife and that on that account he was required to give up his employment with a private firm which yielded an income of Rs. 300/- per month. The petitioner further submitted that he had approached the Public Works Department authorities for giving him an appropriate relief but his request had fallen on deaf ears. He also submitted that on account of poverty, he was unable to approach the court irregular course and that justice be done by granting him an appropriate relief. Annexed to the petitioner was the English translation of the Daily Diary Report No