Hike aid to rape survivors up to Rs 10 lac: SC
Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, February 12 2016 :
In a significant decision to provide succour to rape survivors, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked states and Union territories to frame rules to grant compensation of up to Rs 10 lakh to women subjected to sexual exploitation.
At present, different state governments grant varying amount as compensation to rape survivors ranging from maximum Rs 10,000 in Odisha to Rs 10 lakh in Goa.
Maharashtra is the only state which has not framed rules for compensation as per Section 357A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
A bench of Justices M Y Eqbal and Arun Mishra said the governments should also frame special rehabilitation packages for rape survivors who are minor or physically challenged to help them get over the trauma.
It said there must be a uniform scheme for relief and rehabilitation of rape survivors and directed the states to frame policies on the lines of Goa.
"After perusal of victim compensation schemes of different states and UTs, it is clear that no uniform practice is being followed in providing compensation to the rape victim for the offence and or her rehabilitation.
This practice, of giving different amounts� as compensation, needs to be introspected by states and UTs.
They should consider and formulate a uniform scheme specially for the rape victims in the light of the scheme framed in Goa," it said.
The court passed the direction while coming to rescue of a visually challenged rape survivor who was molested 20 years back and later deserted by her family members.
Now the 37-year survivor lives alone in a village in Durg district of Chhattisgarh with no one to look after her and on a disability pension of just Rs 300 per month grant-ed by the state.