S.S. Ahluwalia vs Union Of India & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the State has a duty to protect the life, liberty, and dignity of individuals under Article 21 of the Constitution, and if it fails to do so, it is liable to pay compensation to the victims' families. The Court upheld the High Court's decision in Bhajan Kaur v. Delhi Administration, which mandated compensation for victims of the 1984 riots. However, the Supreme Court declined to extend this ruling nationwide without a detailed examination of circumstances in each state, directing respective High Courts to address the claims.