The AAP government on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that it has disbursed ₹15 crore for payment of compensation to victims of sexual offences and other crimes like acid attacks.
The submission by the government was made before a Bench of Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and S. P. Garg, which had on August 11 directed it to release the amount by Thursday to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA).
Cheque received: DSLSA
The DSLSA, which processed the claims of victims, informed the court that a cheque for ₹15 crore was received on Wednesday. The Bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by it after the December 16, 2012, gang rape-cum-murder case after which the Delhi Victim Compensation Fund was created.
The court has been giving directions in the matter from time to time with regard to improving investigation of crimes and protection of women in the Capital. On May 4 this year, the court had directed the government to disburse ₹10 crore within seven days for granting interim compensation to victims of sexual and other offences.
It had also directed the government to prepare a roster with regard to testing of DNA samples by forensic science laboratories (FSLs).
On Thursday, the court noted that its direction with regard to the FSLs had not been complied with. It has now directed the Delhi government to file an affidavit indicating a year-wise record of DNA samples received by the two FSLs here and to ensure that the oldest ones are sent for testing first.
