Karnal, Feb. 26 -- A Yamunanagar resident, Ram Avtar, who was acquitted after facing a criminal trial that lasted nearly five years, has been awarded a compensation of Rs.2 lakh by the Haryana Human Rights Commission. The Yamunanagar superintendent of police had submitted a proposal for a compensation of Rs.70,000 to cover advocate's fees, travel expenses and loss of wages on account of courthearings. However, the commission double bench comprising chairperson justice Lalit Batra and member (judicial) Kuldip Jain noted that the mental agony, social stigma, loss of reputation, adverse impact on livelihood and family distress suffered by an innocent person during prolonged criminal proceedings were far more extensive and serious. In the detailed order made available on Wednesday, the bench said the proposed amount merely covered partial reimbursement of direct pecuniary losses. The commission further held that facing a criminal trial was not merely a matter of financial expenditure. Referring to Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, the bench observed that compensation in public law cannot be confined to reimbursement of expenses alone, but must constitute just and comprehensive redress. Considering these circumstances, the commission found Rs.2 lakh to be just, fair and reasonable during its hearing on February 12. The bench clarified that it had the statutory authority under Section 18(a)(i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to recommend such a compensation, the order read. The order did not specifythe nature of the offence that Ram Avatar was accused ofcommitting. The Haryana director general of police has been directed to submit a compliance report at least one week prior to the next date of hearing on April 1....