HC directs TN to notify victim compensation scheme

Chennai, Aug 5: The Madras High Court today directed the state government to notify its 'Victim Compensation Scheme' and file a compliance report on September 2.

A PIL was filed by an advocate Sonia Glory seeking a direction to the state government to frame a Victim Compensation Scheme under section 357A of Criminal Procedure Code.

When it came up for hearing, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan, said, "We may notice the submission of the counsel for the petitioner that all states have notified the scheme except Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

"We are thus of the view that no further directions are required to be passed in the writ petition except that the date of notification to be informed to the Court and the scheme to be placed before this Court." Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the scheme is to fix, regulate and pay compensation to victims of crime.

The counsel said 34 out of 36 States have already framed Victim Compensation scheme and alleged that Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have not framed it. It was submitted that the petitioner made a representation to the state government on April 11 but there was no action following which the PIL was filed.

Government Pleader MK Subramanian submitted that a scheme had actually been drawn up and produced a copy of the scheme dated November 30, 2013.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that "though the same is in the form of a government order as far back as almost three years ago, it has not been notified till date." The bench directed the government to notify the scheme and place it before the court on September 2. It also directed the government to file a compliance report on that day.

PTI