Magistrate orders Govt to pay Rs 2 lakh each to juvenile victims
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 22 2015:
Principal Juvenile Magistrate, Imphal West on October 16 last ordered Manipur Government to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to two minor victims of sexual assault in an incident on October 20, 2013.Principal Juvenile Magistrate, Imphal West RK Memcha issued the order under Section 33(8) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA).
The victims were aged seven and five and the offender was also a minor.
The order said that "The State Government is under an obligation within the mandate of Rule 7(4) & (5) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Rules, 2012 to pay such compensation within a period of 30 days from the date of receiving such order of awarding compensation from any of its funds or schemes or otherwise.
This is the mandate of the statute specially enacted for protection of children for sexual assault and their rehabilitation" .
The order said that the compensation amount of Rs 2 lakhs each should be invested in an interest bearing fixed deposit in a scheduled bank till the victims turn 18 years and the interest accrued may be withdrawn from time to time to meet expenses for their education and other necessity.
A copy of the order was also sent to the Chief Secretary of Manipur for information and necessary compliance while another copy of judgment and order was also sent to the District Magistrate, Imphal West in compliance of the provisions of Section 365 CrpC.
The Juvenile in Conflict with Law (JCL) who had sexually assaulted the minors was also ordered to be sent to a Special Home for a period of two years and two months.
It may be mentioned that the two minor girls were sexually assaulted by the minor boy in 2013.Lamphel Police Station registered a case after the mother of one of the victims filed a complaint.