Supreme Court: The bench of M.Y. Eqbal and Arun Mishra, JJ has directed all the States and Union Territories to make all endeavour to formulate a uniform scheme for providing victim compensation in respect of rape/sexual exploitation with the physically handicapped women as required under the law taking into consideration the scheme framed by the State of Goa for rape victim compensation.
Stating that no amount of money can restore the dignity and confidence that the accused takes away from the rape victim and that no amount of money can erase the trauma and grief the victim suffers, the Court held that this aid can be crucial with aftermath of crime.
In the present case where the prosecutrix, who is blind and an illiterate girl, was subjected to sexual intercourse on the promise of marriage, the Court was of the opinion that the victim, being in a vulnerable position and who is not being taken care of by anyone and having no family to support her either emotionally or economically, it was not feasible for the State to give her any lump sum amount as compensation for rehabilitation as she is not in a position to keep and manage the lump sum amount. Hence, the Court directed the State to pay a sum of Rs.8,000/- per month as victim compensation to the till her life time. [Tekan alias Tekram v. State of Madhya Pradesh, 2016 SCC OnLine SC 131, decided on 11.02.2016]