RAPE VICTIM
Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court on Wednesday increased compensation for a rape and atrocity victim from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, holding that the amount determined by the trial court was not supported by reasons. The lawyer contended that the victim was entitled to the minimum amount under the Victim Compensation Scheme and in this case it should be Rs 9 lakh. The FIR in the case was filed in 2016, and in 2025, the trial court punished the accused with 10 years’ imprisonment for rape and criminal intimidation despite the knowledge that the victim belonged to a Scheduled Caste. The trial court had also awarded Rs 3 lakh compensation to the victim.
After the hearing, Justice V K Vyas noted that the trial court’s order for fixing the compensation was “non-speaking”. HC said, “It is hereby directed that the appellant-victim is entitled to a total compensation amount of Rs 5 lakh being the victim of rape as she suffered a lot of physical harassment and mental trauma and also passed through aggravating circumstances where she had attempted to commit suicide by consuming poisonous drug (pesticide). ” The victim had approached HC through advocate Deepmala Desai seeking enhancement in compensation, as the victim’s financial condition was not good. She submitted that while fixing the compensation amount, the trial court had not taken into consideration the gravity of the offence and her psychological condition which had driven her to attempt suicide by consuming pesticide. She survived after a prolonged treatment. The accused was convicted under IPC and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. When the victim sought enhancement in the compensation amount, state govt submitted that considering the peculiar circumstances of the case and the pathetic situation of the victim, the minimum amount of compensation as required under the scheme may be awarded.