New Delhi:
The Central government told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that it will implement within six weeks a system to provide financial assistance to rape victims as part of an effort to ensure "restorative justice".
The government made this submission before the division bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
Under the scheme, a rape victim would be entitled to financial assistance of up-to Rs.2 lakh, which may be raised to Rs.3 lakh if she is a minor or mentally challenged, or gets pregnant or infected with HIV following the assault.
A victim must file a first information report (FIR) to apply for assistance. The scheme will not prevent an affected woman from seeking relief from courts.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) first proposed such a scheme in 1995, which the government subsequently examined. The contours of the scheme were recently discussed with NGOs, lawyers and activists.
Earlier, the court berated the Central and Delhi governments for the delay in putting in place a scheme for providing compensation to rape victims despite an assurance in July last year.
The court made these remarks after lawyer Aparna Bhat, appearing for the petitioner, Delhi Commission for Women, complained that the Central government was not serious about finalising a scheme, as nothing materialised even after more than 10 hearings in the case.