54C. [ Order to pay compensation.] [Add by Act No. 6 of 2007 (w.e.f. 6.6.2007)]
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act No. 2 of 1974) the court when passing the judgment in a case falling under Section 54B may, if it is satisfied that death or grievous hurt or disability or other injury has been caused to any person or persons by consumption of liquor or intoxicating drug caused to any person or persons by consumption of liquor or intoxicating drug sold in any place, order the person who sold the liquor or intoxicating drug, whether or not he is convicted of an offence under Section 54B, to pay, by way of compensation, such amount as it thinks just to the legal representative of the deceased or to the person or persons to whom grievous hurt or disability has been caused :Provided that the amount of compensation ordered to be paid under this section shall not be less than three lakh rupees in case of death, two lakh rupees in case of grievous hurt or disability and twenty thousand rupees in other cases :Provided further that, where the liquor or intoxicating drug is sold in a licensed shop, the liability to pay the compensation under this Section shall be on the licensee.(2)Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (1) may, within thirty days from the date of the order, prefer an appeal to the High Court :Provided that no such appeal shall lie unless the amount ordered to be paid under sub-section (1) is deposited in the court which passed such order :Provided further that the High Court may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.
