HC seeks government’s reply on relocation of child rape survivors

The High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the government on a plea seeking amendment in the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme to provide for change of abode for child rape survivors as they may face threats in future from their attackers.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar issued the notice on an application moved by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan in a pending PIL.

‘Psychological trauma’

The plea, moved through senior advocate H. S. Phoolka and advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, also sought directions to the Delhi Legal Services Authority to implement the provision of providing relocation of address to a minor rape survivor. It alleged that a number of cases of child abuse entailed abuse or rape by neighbours or persons having physical access to the victims.

“Once such an accused is granted bail, he gains access to the child again. This is bound to cause deep psychological trauma and a sense of fear for the child, for she/he is faced with the perpetrator of the crime... Not only does this prejudice the trial, having inculcated fear in child’s mind, but is deeply distressing for the mental health and rehabilitation of the victim child,” it said.