Delhi Cantt Minor Rape Case: Court Orders Rs. 2.5 Lakh Interim Compensation To Victim's Family

A Delhi Court on Thursday ordered Rs. 2.5 lakh interim compensation to the family of 9 year old minor girl allegedly gang-raped and murdered in Delhi Cantt area under Delhi Victim Compensation  Scheme, 2018. 

Additional Sessions Judge Ashutosh Kumar was dealing with an application moved under sec. 357A of Cr. P.C  seeking interim compensation on behalf of victim's mother (complainant).

According to the application, it was stated that the family of the victim belongs to a very poor strata of the society and therefore was in dire need of financial assistance from the Court.

"As per the schedule applicable to Part II of the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme 2018, the maximum compensation awardable in case of loss of life is Rs. 10 lakh. Hence, the informant (mother of deceased victim child) is entitled to be considered for interim compensation of 25 % of Rs. 10 lakhs i.e. Rs.2,50,000/­," the Court ordered.

The Court reiterated the purpose of sec. 375A (1) CrPC which provides that every State Government in co­ordination with the Central Government shall prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim or his dependents who have suffered loss or injury as a result of the crime and who, require rehabilitation.

The Court added thus:

"As regards the interim compensation on the additional ground of the alleged rape of the victim, in view of the submissions of the IO and in view of the fact that the investigating agency itself is not sure as to whether the victim was raped or not, the interim compensation qua the same is not allowed at this stage. However, liberty is granted to move a fresh application to that regard, in case the investigating agency collects further material or comes to the conclusion that the victim Child was raped. Application is accordingly disposed of."

Reportedly, a nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed by a priest and three employees of a crematorium near Delhi Cantonment in southwest Delhi.

Delhi Police had registered a case against four accused on the basis of the statement of the minor's mother who alleged that her daughter was raped, murdered and cremated without their consent.

The accused persons have been booked under Sections 302, 304, 376, 341, 506, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, along with sec. 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sec. 3 of SC/ST Act.

Title: State Vs.  Kuldeep Singh & Ors.

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