India, June 9 -- Holding the state government responsible for failing to protect a patient admitted to Pune's Yerwada Mental Hospital, the Bombay High Court on Monday directed it to pay Rs.22 lakh compensation to the widow and children of a man who was beaten to death by another inmate in 2013.

A division bench of Justices Manish Pitale and Shriram V. Shirsat said the state had failed in its duty of care towards patients under its custody and was "clearly responsible" for the violation of the fundamental rights of the deceased and the consequential violation of the rights of his family.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the deceased's widow and children seeking compensation for alleged negligence by hospital authorities. The pet...