The Delhi High Court has taken a significant step towards expediting the process of disbursing compensation to survivors of sexual violence. In a recent ruling, the court called for the establishment of a standard operating procedure (SOP) to address the noticeable delays and disconnects in the system that handles such compensations.
Presided over by Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma, the court highlighted the systemic issues between the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act courts and the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA). The judges pointed out that even in cases where convictions had been secured three to four years ago, survivors had not received the compensation due to them, underscoring a serious gap in communication and process adherence.
In response to these findings, the High Court directed the DSLSA to create a dedicated email ID for each district’s legal service authorities. This initiative aims to streamline the communication of court orders, ensuring that details of convictions and compensation awards are promptly shared within 24 hours of a court’s decision.*
“This court has noticed that in several cases, even the survivors with special abilities are not given the compensation and, in fact, the DLSA concerned is not even aware of the conviction(s), which takes place,” the bench stated, emphasizing the urgent need for better coordination between the POCSO courts and the legal service authorities.
The court also instructed the DSLSA secretary to convene a meeting with all district legal services authorities and the presiding judges of the POCSO courts. The goal of this gathering is to formulate a SOP that will prevent future delays in compensation delivery to survivors.
Moreover, the High Court has requested a detailed flow chart that delineates how communication should flow from the POCSO courts to the DSLSAs, and how these authorities should subsequently release compensation and inform the trial courts of their compliance.
The ruling came during a hearing of a POCSO case where the survivor had yet to receive any compensation. The DSLSA was directed to begin the compensation release process immediately, highlighting the court’s commitment to ensuring justice and support for survivors.
