Supreme Court orders ₹15 lakh aid for disabled rape victim

The Supreme Court has directed the Himachal Pradesh government to deposit ₹15 lakh as a lump-sum compensation for the welfare of a differently-abled rape survivor who gave birth to a child.

A Bench of Justices J. Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul ordered the State to deposit the money in an interest-bearing fixed deposit in a nationalised bank in the name of the victim.

The apex court modified a High Court order, which had directed that ₹30,000 be paid every month for life to the victim. The Bench agreed with the State’s counsel, advocate Varinder Kumar Sharma, that ends of justice would be better met if the victim, who suffers 80% disability, is paid a lumpsum. The interest from the deposit would be withdrawn by her parents. The court ordered that steps should be taken to ensure that the amount is actually spent on the welfare of the victim.