Victims’ compensation fund dues: HC warns of attaching treasury accounts

The Kerala High Court on Monday (March 16) said 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, meant to be distributed to survivors of sexual assault.

The court was hearing pleas, including those on the need to augment staff and infrastructure at mediation centres. The court had earlier directed the State Home Secretary to appear before it on Monday (March 16) over the alleged delay in handing over compensation worth ₹47 crore to child and women survivors of sexual assault. Another ₹10 crore is due to be paid to mediators.

The court had 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 on Monday, 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.