Court directs Rs.1 lakh compensation for minor rape victim

Terming children "important national assets", a court here has ruled that "concept of welfare and well-being of children is basic for any civilised society" as it directed Rs.1 lakh as compensation to a minor who was sexually assaulted.

Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Manan said: "Concept of welfare and well-being of children is basic for any civilised society and this has a direct bearing on the state of health and well-being of the entire community, its growth and development."

"It has been time and again emphasized in legislation, international declarations as well as the judicial pronouncements that the children are a supremely important national asset and the future well being of the nation depends on how its children grow and develop," the court said in its order on Monday. The order was released on Tuesday.

The court observed that Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act mandates that in addition to the punishment to the accused, the victim be granted compensation for physical and mental trauma caused to him and for the rehabilitation of the victim.

"Therefore, in order to provide restorative and compensatory justice to the victim, Rs.1 lakh is granted to the victim as compensation," the court said and directed Delhi State Legal Services Authority, north district, to ensure that the amount is given to the parents of the victim within one month and it should be disbursed in such a manner that the same be used for welfare and rehabilitation of the victim.

Meanwhile, the court awarded three years rigorous imprisonment to Jitender, 23, and asked him to pay a fine of Rs.10,000 under convicting him under sections 8 (sexual assault) of POCSO Act and 354 (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.

Jitender was facing trial for sexually assaulting a six year old girl on April 3, 2013 in west Delhi's Prashant Vihar.