A day after a 10-year-old rape victim delivered a baby at a Chandigarh hospital, the Supreme Court initiated the process for granting her compensation under the Victim Compensation scheme and also for the rehabilitation and further education of the victim.
The Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Deepak Gupta issued notice to the Chandigarh administration, the Member-Secretary of Chandigarh legal Services Committee and Member-Secretary National legal Services Authority (NAlSA) to assist the Court when it decides on the issue on Tuesday.
The application seeking compensation for the girl was filed by senior advocate Indira Jaising, who is assisting the Court in another matter filed by a young lawyer Nipun Saxena intended at legal reforms aimed to provide succor to rape victims which is pending in the Court since the Nirbhaya rape incident took place in the Capital.
Jaising sought a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the girl and complained that though she is entitled to Rs 3 lakh under Victim Compensation scheme, the UT administration had paid her a paltry sum of Rs 10,000. She sought Rs 3 lakh to be released immediately while the remaining Rs 7 lakh to be kept in fixed deposit in order to help in the rehabilitation of the victim. The victim's father has agreed to hand over the newborn for adoption.