Sexual Offences: Delhi High Court Seeks Report From DSLSA Over Payment Of Compensation To Victims

The Delhi High Court has sought details from the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) regarding payment and non payment of compensation to victims in relation to the FIRs pertaining to sexual offences.

Justice Jasmeet Singh was dealing with a bunch of pleas wherein a predecessor bench had earlier sought to streamline the process of supplying FIRs pertaining to commission of sexual offences to DSLSA, for the purposes of granting interim compensation to the victims.

Victim Compensation Scheme: Delhi HC Seeks Measures To Address Default In Sharing Data With DSLSA Apropos FIRs Pertaining To Sexual Offences

The development came after Kanwal Jeet Arora, Secretary of DSLSA apprised the Court that a list of 87,405 FIRs has been collated between January, 2012 to December 2017 wherein the FIRs were not forwarded from Delhi Police to DSLSA.

It was further submitted that out of 87,405 FIRs, there may be some cases in which no offence has been made out and there may be some cases where compensation has been paid.

"Let the DSLSA give a detailed tabulation indicating cases where no offence has been made, cases where compensation has been paid and cases where compensation is yet to be paid. The affidavit shall also indicate further steps taken by DSLSA in that regard," the Court directed.

Accordingly, the matter has been posted for compliance on May 31.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had informed the Court that all the Districts' DCPs were sensitized and necessary Standing Orders were issued so that the entire data with respect to the cases pertaining to sexual offences can be shared with DSLSA.

All District DCPs Sensitized For Sharing Data Of Cases Pertaining To Sexual Offences With DSLSA: Delhi Police To High Court

Previously, keeping in view that such default in sharing of data apropos is recurring in nature, the Court had sought measures to ensure that no victim is left without compensation/counseling .

The DSLSA had informed the Court that it had written to the District Judge Headquarters, calling upon all Special Judge(s) dealing in POCSO matters to share the record in how many cases before them, compensation is yet not given to the victims. 

Further, it was stated that a letter will be addressed to the Director General of Prosecution, asking him to sensitize all the prosecutors to check if the victim has been given compensation, before filing of charge sheet.

Further, to ensure that such discrepancy in sharing of data is not repeated in future, the Court was also informed that the Commissioner of Police, Delhi will also issue a circular directing all the Investigating Officers stating that whenever provisions pertaining to sexual offences are added to an FIR at a later stage, a copy of the same is sent to the DSLSA.

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

Click Here To Read Order