Compensate rape victims within a day: Delhi HC to government

The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the city government to come out with a scheme that will enable rape victims to get compensation money within a day of the award under the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme 2011.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul directed the divisional commissioner of the revenue department and the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to work out a solution on the issue as early as possible, and posted the matter for Aug 13.

The court's direction came after the DSLSA informed it that the Delhi victim compensation fund has not been created till date.

The compensation scheme offers ex-gratia payment from Rs.40,000 to Rs.4 lakh to crime victims.

Advocate Meera Bhatia, who appeared for rape victims, suggested to the court that a single-window system should be adopted to disburse the money.

The lawyer submitted that around 33 rape victims were yet to get compensation under the scheme.

Hearing the arguments, the bench said: "We are not happy with the current procedure followed. Two weeks is too long. Do it (disbursal of compensation) immediately. The victim should get the compensation within 24 hours (one day)."

The bench also directed the central government to expedite induction of over 14,000 additional personnel in Delhi Police.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain informed the court that the proposal to induct 14,689 additional personnel in Delhi Police has been sent to the finance ministry and it was expediting it.

The bench asked the Centre to submit a status report in the issue on the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a suo motu cognizance it took for the safety of women in the capital after Dec 16 gang rape.