'Setup victim compensation scheme faster'

The Bombay high court asked the state government to expedite formulation of a scheme to compensate crime victims.

The Bombay high court asked the state government to expedite formulation of a scheme to compensate crime victims.

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Though a legal provision to the effect has been brought into force by the Centre from January 2010, a regular scheme is yet to be formed in the state. On July 6, an ad-hoc scheme framed by the National Legal Aid Services Authority was introduced in the state temporarily.

The division bench of justice AH Joshi and UV Bakre, however, doubted actual implementation of the scheme, since it had no clarity on source of funds to be disbursed to victims of crime.

The issue was brought to the notice of the court during a hearing on a petition concerning the death of Shyam Uke who died in custody of the Gondiya police 18 years ago. His wife and five children moved the court seeking compensation of Rs1 lakh for each of them from the state. During pendency of the petition, the state awarded Rs 1.6 lakh to them.
The government argued that any additional compensation, if needed, should be paid by the seven policemen convicted for Uke’s custodial death.

The bench, however, held that the state was equally liable to pay. and arrived at a figure of Rs1.06 lakh to be paid to each of the petitioners.