ORDER 1. A macabre incident resulting in the loss of 118 lives on account of the collapse of a multi-storeyed commercial building in Bangalore city in the year 1983, led to the filing of a writ petition by way of public interest litigation in the High Court of Karnataka in the year 1988. Prior to that the Government appointed a Commission of Inquiry, headed by a High Court Judge. The Commission submitted its report in the year 1986. The Commission, inter alia, placed the responsibility on the corporation officials to a certain extent. The High Court disposed of the writ petition in the year 1998, issuing directions for payment of compensation at the specified scale to the legal representatives of the victims. 2. We have heard the appeal at length. 3. At this juncture we do not wish to express any view on the merits of the legal contentions advanced. However, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, especially the gravity of the human tragedy, the instances in which the ex gratia is being granted by the State Governments at a much higher scale and the considerable lapse of time, we feel that the a appellants should consider the payment of reasonable amount by way of ex gratia. To enable them to do so, the matters are adjourned. 4. The appeals to be posted after two weeks. Court Masters