The apex court on Thursday said it was “shocking” that Madhya Pradesh was disbursing a meagre Rs 6,000- Rs. 6,500 as compensation to each victim of sexual assault even though it was among the States that received maximum funds from the Centre under the Nirbhaya scheme.
“Are you doing charity by paying Rs. 6,500 to a rape victim?” asked an incensed court after going through the affidavit filed by the MP government as regards compensation paid by it out of the Nirbhaya Funds scheme.
It may be recalled that the Nirbhaya Fund scheme was set up by the Centre in 2013 after the shocking December 16, 2012 gang-rape and murder case in Delhi, to support the initiatives of governments and NGOs working for women’s safety.
A Bench comprising Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta, while perusing Madhya Pradesh’s affidavit, said: “According to your (Madhya Pradesh) affidavit, on an average you are paying Rs. 6,000 to a rape victim. Are you doing a charity? How can you do so? You value a rape at Rs. 6,500?”
“For Madhya Pradesh, the figures are fantastic. There are 1,951 rape victims in Madhya Pradesh and you are giving them Rs 6,000- Rs 6,500 each. Is that good, commendable? What is this,” the Bench asked, adding, “this is total insensitiveness”.
The apex court also slammed the Haryana government for failing to file an affidavit regarding disbursement of Nirbhaya Funds in the state. “It is a very clear indication of what you feel for safety of women in your State… You take your time and tell the women in your State that you do not care for them,” the Bench told the counsel for the state of Haryana.
Despite an order of the Supreme Court passed last month, as many as 24 States and UTs are yet to file their affidavits.