The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Dindigul Collector to disburse the remaining relief amount of ₹1.95 lakh to a woman from Oddanchatram, Dindigul district within two months.
The court was hearing the petition filed by the woman who belongs to Scheduled Caste. In 2014, the woman was sexually assaulted by a Caste Hindu man. The man was booked and later imprisoned.
The woman sought appropriate compensation from the State under the victim relief fund. She filed a petition before the High Court in 2014. The court directed the State to pay the relief amount as fixed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. But, the authorities concerned had not provided the entire amount.
She again approached the court in 2018 seeking compensation as per the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016. The court had directed the authorities to consider the representation made by the woman.
The court had observed that since it is the welfare legislation, even though the occurrence took place before 2016, considering the benevolent provisions, the compensation amount can be disbursed to the petitioner as per the amended rules.
She made a representation to the Dindigul Collector. However, the Dindigul Collector passed an order stating that an additional relief amount could not be paid. Therefore, she filed the present petition before the court in 2019.
The woman said as per Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016, she was entitled for the relief and compensation of ₹5 lakh of which 50 per cent should be disbursed after the completion of the medical test.
Further, 25 per cent should be paid after the charge sheet was filed before the court concerned. She said that at present she was entitled for 75 per cent of the total compensation amount of ₹5 lakh.
Allowing the petition filed by the woman, Justice G. Ilangovan directed the Dindigul Collector to disburse the remaining relief amount of ₹1.95 lakh. The court also quashed the order passed by the Dindigul Collector who had stated that an additional relief amount could not be disbursed.
