The Supreme Court has approved the proposed scheme to uniformly compensate the victims of sexual assault and acid attacks across India
A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said it would be applicable pan-India and the states and Union Territories would be free to give compensation over and above what was stipulated in the scheme.
As per the scheme proposed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), a minimum Rs 5 lakh is to be paid in case of loss of life or gang rape of a victim and maximum has been fixed at Rs 10 lakh. A minimum amount of Rs 4 lakh is to be paid in case of rape or unnatural sexual assault, Times of India reported.
An Acid attack survivor with more than 50% injury can claim a compensation between Rs 5 and Rs 8 lakh.In case of disfigurement, victims can get Rs 7-8 lakh.
Supreme Court of India (Photo: PTI)
The scheme also provides for compensation amount in cases of acid attacks where the injury is less than 50% and 20% respectively, Hindustan Times reported
The survivors can now directly approach local authorities to seek compensation immediately after the incident.
In case of pregnancy on account of rape, the victim would get a compensation ranging from Rs three lakh to Rs four lakh, while for miscarriage or loss of fertility due to such assaults, the victim would get Rs two lakh to Rs three lakh.
The victim compensation rate in India is abysmally low, thanks to the lack of clarity over regulation in different states.
At present, different state governments grant varying amounts to rape survivors ranging from minimum Rs 10,000 in Odisha to Rs 10 lakh in Goa.
However, the latest directive from the apex court would end the vast disparity in victim compensation.
“We make it clear that the scheme prepared by the NALSA will not preclude the states and union territories from giving more compensation….we direct that the scheme be implemented in all states and union territories,” the bench said.
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