The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a petition seeking time-bound disbursal of compensation to victims of sexual violence under Rule 9 of the National Legal Services Authority’s compensation scheme for survivors of sexual assault.
The Bench of Chief Justice DY. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice J.B. Pardiwala issued notice on the petition filed by the Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar.
The plea had approached the Apex Court for enforcement of the fundamental rights of victims of sexual violence guaranteed under the Constitution, victim compensation scheme under Section 357A CrPC and NALSA’s Compensation Scheme for Women and Victims/Survivors of the Sexual Assault/other Crimes-2018.
The plea further sought direction to the States and Union Territories to give wide publicity to the Scheme and implement the same in letter and spirit, including uniformity in procedures and amount of compensation.
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate-On-Record Jyotika Kalra contended that the organisation was engaged in the protection of victims of sexual violence and that there was inconsistency in the scheme framed by NALSA.