₹36.50 cr. authorised to clear victims’ compensation fund arrears, Kerala HC informed

The Finance department has authorised ₹36.50 crore to clear the arrears towards the victims’ compensation fund, meant to be distributed to survivors of sexual assault, and another ₹12.26 crore to settle the arrears of mediator fees, the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) submitted in an affidavit before the Kerala High Court.

This comes in the wake of the High Court observing recently that it would pass orders to attach the State government’s treasury accounts, if the government failed to pay within a week the amount due to the victims’ compensation fund. The court was hearing pleas, including those on the need to augment staff and infrastructure at mediation centres.

The court had also warned of initiating contempt of court proceedings if there was any further delay in handing over the compensation amount that is due from 2022. The Additional Secretary, Home department, who appeared online before the High Court, had submitted that the Finance department ought to sanction the funds, and that the Home department was only a nodal department to regulate, administer, and monitor the compensation scheme. Subsequently, the court directed the Finance Secretary to appear before it and file an affidavit.

In the wake of the affidavit being filed, the court directed the Finance Secretary to appear online on March 30, to consider further matters relating to the dues. On its part, the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) has been directed to file an affidavit on the matter.