Social Justice
Compensation Scheme Must Cover Child Victims: SC
- 26 Jul 2018
- 3 min read
The Supreme Court has said that the Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018, proposed by the National Legal Services Authority should include child victims of sexual assault as well.
- The scheme can be a source of financial solace for victims of sex crimes and acid attacks during court trial.
- The court has stressed upon the implementation of the scheme in letter and spirit by all states and union territories of the country.
- Earlier, the Centre had told SC that it was finding it difficult to get the cooperation of states on the issue relating to disbursal of compensation to the victims of sexual assault under the Nirbhaya Fund.
NOTE: Nirbhaya Fund was announced by the Centre in 2013 after the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case in Delhi to support the initiatives on women's safety across the country.
Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018
- The scheme proposes a uniform payment of Rs. 5 lakh to the maximum of Rs. 10 lakh to gang-rape survivors in any part of the country.
- In the case of rape and unnatural sexual assault, the victim will get a minimum of Rs. 4 lakh and the maximum of Rs. 7 lakh.
- The scheme also says that victim of acid attacks, in case of disfigurement of face, would get a minimum compensation of Rs 7 lakh, while the upper limit would be Rs 8 lakh.
- The scheme also provides for the provision of setting up of Women Victims Compensation Fund from which the amount of compensation, as decided by the State Legal Services Authority or District Legal Services Authority, shall be paid to the women victim or her dependents.
NOTE: National Legal Services Authority
- The National Legal Services Authority was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to fulfill the objectives of Article 39A and provide for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society.
- The Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief and the second senior most Judge of Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman of the Authority.
