Karnataka High Court Directs Govt To Release Funds To State Legal Services Authority For 'Victim Compensation Scheme'

A division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Suraj Govindaraj noted in its order,

"It is informed that Rs. 13 crore has been released to KSLSA and the requisition for remaining Rs. 7 crore has not been received. As soon as the requisition is received the remaining amount will be released as arrangements are made and orders for release have been passed."

It added, "KSLSA counsel submits that requisition has been sent and in case it is required it will be sent again for release of remaining amount. In view of the above the state government is directed through the Principal Secretary (Woman and Child Development Department) to ensure the release of the remaining amount at the earliest."

The directions were given during the hearing of a petition filed Peoples Movement Against Sexual Assault (PMASA).

The court had in its earlier order taken on record the memo filed by KSLSA which revealed that 188 applications received under the Victim Compensation Scheme have been kept pending on account of paucity of funds. The amount required from the State Government for disbursal under the Victim Compensation Scheme was quantified at Rs. 20 crores for the period 2020-21.

The court had observed,

"Unless the said amount is released, the Victim Compensation Scheme cannot be implemented by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA)."

Following which the court had directed the state government to release at least one-fourth of the amount of Rs.20 crores to the KSLSA by 30th May 2020.

Case Title: Peoples Movement Against Sexual Assault (PMASA) v. State Of Karnataka

Case No: WP 6301/2017