New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Kerala High Court (HC) to oversee the treatment and related matters of endosulfan victims in the Kasaragod district of the state. The directions were given by a bench chaired by chief justice DY Chandrachud. 

The apex court also ended contempt proceedings against state chief secretary VP Joy as the government completed the distribution of compensation to the victims. 

Earlier, the secretary of the district legal services authority in Kasaragod had submitted a report before the Supreme Court regarding the treatment-related affairs of endosulfan victims. The court’s current directive instructs HC to oversee the implementation of the recommendations put forward in the report. 

Further, the bench also ordered for transferring the case to the division bench of the HC. 

Meanwhile, the Kerala chief secretary informed the court that the distribution of compensation to 3700 endosulfan victims was completed. A total of Rs 5 lakh each was granted as compensation following a supreme court order in this regard. 

Senior advocate PN Ravindran and advocate PS Sudheer appeared for the petitioners of the victims. Whereas, senior advocate Jaideep Gupta and standing counsel Nishe Rajan Shonker appeared for the state chief secretary.