Delhi High Court Seeks Status Report From DSLSA On Payment Of Compensation To Victims Of Sexual Offences

The Delhi High Court has sought a status report from Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) on the payment of compensation to victims of sexual offences and number of applications moved so far regarding the same.

Justice Jasmeet Singh was hearing a batch of pleas relating to the issue of supply of FIRs in cases of sexual offences, to DSLSA for the purposes of granting interim compensation to the victims.

The court directed the authority to file the status report within a period of four weeks while listing the matter for hearing on May 26.

The court was apprised that efforts of all stakeholders are in the right direction, files are being processed and the process of compensation is being initiated.

Earlier, while directing DSLSA to move applications for compensation in the cases registered between 2012 to 2017, Justice Singh had clarified that there will be no requirement to file a separate application for condonation of delay to seek compensation in such cases.

It had also directed the Principal District and Sessions Judges to direct judges and other court staff to identify and trace out the files of the disposed of cases of POCSO, rape and other sexual offences expeditiously and permit inspection by the lawyers provided by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) for filing of appropriate applications for compensation.

Previously, the court had observed that Special Courts must, on their own, initiate action for grant of interim compensation to child victims at the earliest, without waiting for them to file an application for the same.

It had also sought details from the DSLSA regarding payment and non payment of compensation to victims in relation to the FIRs pertaining to sexual offences.

Case Title: Umesh v. State (and other connected matters)

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