India, Nov. 14 -- The Orissa High Court has held jail authorities responsible for the death of an undertrial prisoner following an assault by fellow inmates and directed the state government to pay Rs 15 lakh compensation to his widow and provide her with a Group-D government job.

Justice Biraja Prasanna Satapathy passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the deceased's wife, Sasi Behera.

The court also directed the government to deposit Rs 5 lakh out of the compensation amount in a fixed deposit in the name of the couple's minor daughter for six years. The remaining Rs 10 lakh will be handed over to the widow.

In its judgment, delivered on November 4 and uploaded on November 11, the court directed the state government to comp...