Punjab State Legal Services Authority came to rescue of minor victim and provides Rs 1 lac as compensation

Chandigarh:   The Punjab State Legal Services Authority has set an example to ensure financial relief of Rs.1 Lac to the victim within 5 days after the matter of rape and conception of pregnancy of minor victim aged about 13 years came to the notice with a media report.

          The Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority immediately swung into action and issued the directions to the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bathinda for providing necessary legal aid and adequate financial relief to the victim in terms of the compensation as per the provisions contained in NALSA's Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/other Crimes-2018.

          After that, the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bathinda, collected all the information relating to the case. The guardian of the victim was contacted and he was made aware of his right to get compensation and that legal service can be granted to him. As a result, a legal aid counsel was appointed and an application was got filed before the Special Court for grant of compensation. The Special Court passed the order today for grant of interim compensation of Rs.1,06,250/- to the victim and the State Authority released the compensation to the victim today itself. The whole process was completed within 5 days.

          The Punjab State Legal Services Authority under the visionary guidance of Mr. Justice Ajay Tewari, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, has been providing compensation to the victims of crime including Rape, Acid Attack, Burn Victims, Permanent disability. In the year 2020-21, more than Rs. 5 crores were disbursed by the Legal Services Authorities in the State of Punjab. The State Authority is putting all possible efforts to ensure adequate relief to the victims in such cases.

          The Punjab State Legal Services Authority is committed to extending the legal aid and the financial relief in terms of the compensation to such victims, who are eligible for grant of compensation under Punjab Victim Compensation Scheme, 2017 and NALSA's Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/other Crimes-2018.