Rs. 2 lakh for rape victims a mockery of system: SC
Bench orders Rs. 10 lakh each for two girls, who were gang-raped in February last at Betma in Indore
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Madhya Pradesh government to pay as compensation Rs.10 lakh each to two girls, who were gang-raped in February last year at Betma in Indore district.
A Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha and Madan B. Lokur passed the order on an appeal filed by the 84-year-old social activist Satya Pal Anand against an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which awarded Rs. 2 lakh in ad hoc compensation. Noting that Rs. 2 lakh had already been paid, the Bench directed the State to pay Rs. 8 lakh within a month.
It wanted the Centre to take the lead in evolving a social security scheme and working out welfare measures for rape victims. It expressed concern at such incidents and said: "Trauma of rape victims continues throughout their life and such victims cannot be compensated by any amount."
The Bench said: "As a matter of fact, no amount of money can restore the dignity and confidence of rape victims. However, certain measures such as adequate compensation, insurance, employment and social security scheme may help in the rehabilitation to some extent."
The compensation, fixed by the High Court (Rs. 2 lakh), was "very deficient" and "inadequate" for the girls who belonged to poor families. "It's a mockery of system, giving Rs. 2 lakh as compensation to victims. This is very serious infraction of human rights."
The Bench took a serious note of an affidavit filed on behalf of the State by Additional Superintendent of Police, Indore, Arvind Tiwary, disclosing the names of the girls, an act prohibited under Section 228(A) of the IPC. It served a show-cause notice on him, asking him to explain why a criminal case could be not filed against him for disclosing the names of the victims.
Referring to the High Court's order that said the 16 accused who raped the two girls were languishing in jail, the Bench said: "The High Court is more concerned about the accused. It says they are languishing in jail. They are not languishing in jail. They are serving sentence. The High Court is not concerned about compensation."
On larger issues, Additional Solicitor-General Siddharth Luthra informed the Bench that another Bench was seized of a petition relating to payment of compensation to rape victims and their rehabilitation. The Bench said that since other aspects, including the social security scheme and rehabilitation for victims, were under consideration, it would leave the issues to be dealt with by the other Bench.
SOURCE
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