Compensation for sexual assault hiked to Rs 10 lakh
- The state government has enhanced the compensation amount by up to Rs 10 lakh to women victims of sexual assault.
- In the previous victim compensation scheme (VCS) formulated in February 2012, the maximum compensation awarded to a rape victim had never exceeded Rs 3 lakh. Under NALSA’s (National Legal Services Authority) model revised scheme, a victim of gang rape is eligible for a compensation of up to Rs 10 lakh (minimum Rs 5 Lakh).
- In May this year, the Supreme Court in Nipun Saxena versus Union of India case (No 565/2012) had ordered all state governments and Union Territories to implement NALSA’s model victim compensation scheme.
- NALSA’s VCS, besides enhancing the compensation amount, also empowers the member secretary of the district and taluk legal service authority to suo motu recommend interim compensation to the women victims without having to wait for the victim to file an application for the compensation. The revised VCS also makes it mandatory for district legal service authority (DLSA) to release interim compensation (25% of the total compensation) irrespective of the outcome.
