Published: 21st November 2017
HC tells Delhi government to include provision for relocation of child sexual abuse victims
Bachpan Bachao Andolan had claimed in its application that in several cases of child sexual abuse, relocating victims and their family would be warranted as they may face threats from the perps
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Under the current scheme, child abuse victims are given no monetary aid or a change of address (representative image)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suggested to the AAP government and the legal services authority DSLSA to include a provision where child victims of sexual abuse can be relocated under the victim compensation scheme.
The suggestion from a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar to the Delhi government and the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) came on an NGO's plea to revisit the victim compensation scheme.
Appearing for the organisation, senior advocate H S Phoolka and advocate Prabhsahay Kaur said though the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme (DVCS) provided compensation to victims of rape and other sexual offences, it did nothing on the monetary compensation or assistance for relocation or even a change of residence.
Besides suggesting revisiting of the DVCS, the court issued directions to the Delhi government on the shortage of public prosecutors (PP) and additional PPs in the trial courts in the national capital. The bench called for a status report from the Delhi government on steps taken to recruit more PPs and APPs and
whether any promotions have been made since 2010. The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 11.