Delhi High Court Issues Directions To Prevent Delay In Releasing Compensation To POCSO Survivors

The Delhi High Court has issued directions to prevent delay in releasing compensation by the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to the survivors in POCSO cases.

A division bench comprising of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Amit Sharma that there is clearly a disconnect between the POCSO Courts and the concerned Delhi State Legal Service Authorities on the issue.

“This Court has noticed that in several cases, even survivors with special abilities are not released the compensation and in fact, the concerned DLSA is not even aware of the conviction(s), which takes place,” the court said.

It directed the Secretary of DSLSA to hold a meeting with all the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) and the concerned Presiding Judges of POCSO Courts in each district to set up Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to prevent the delays in releasing compensation.

The meetings is directed to be held over the next six weeks.

“Let a dedicated Email ID be created for each of the districts of Delhi Legal Service Authorities so that the POCSO Courts can communicate the orders of conviction or grant of interim and final compensation to the survivors within 24 hours after the order is pronounced,” the court said.

Further, it directed that a flow chart be prepared explaining the manner in which the communication from the POCSO Courts to the concerned DLSAs shall take place and how the concerned DLSAs, after release of the compensation, would report back to the POCSO Courts upon compliance.

The bench passed the order in a criminal appeal moved in 2020 by a man in a POCSO case. The case highlighted the issue pertaining to the timely releasing of compensation to the minor victim.

On September 24, the bench had observed that there is a clear disconnect between the POCSO Courts and the concerned Delhi State Legal Service Authorities with regard to the manner in which victim compensation is being disbursed to survivors.

The bench ordered that the process for release of compensation to the minor survivor in the case be undertaken by the concerned DLSA. The DSLSA/DLSA is permitted to obtain the electronic copy of the Court Record of this case from the registry upon request,” the court said.

The matter will be heard on December 09.

Title: RAM PREET v. STATE

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 1106

Click here to read order