New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Tuesday awarded Rs.7 lakh compensation to the family of a truck driver who was shot dead by a Delhi Police constable after being hit by the victim's vehicle in 2003.

Justice S. Muralidhar stated that the police cannot run away from their responsibility by claiming that constable Anil Kumar committed the offence in his personal capacity. The dead man was Raju Bhandari.

'The act of firing from his service rifle and from near the area where he was posted shows he did the crime in his official capacity,' the court said.

'The inquiry report against Anil Kumar established that the charge is a serious one. Leaving the picket where he was deployed and using the weapon unauthorisedly amounts to carelessness and dereliction of duty.'

Ram Singh, father of the deceased, had sought compensation from the government. The incident took place Sep 13, 2003.