Rs 31 lakh awarded to victims of rape, acid attack, mishap

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 9

Gurmeet Tiwana, Civil Judge (Senior Division)-cum-secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), today said any person, who had been a victim of any mishap or crime, could avail compensation under Victims Compensation scheme by simply filing an application with the authority. In the ongoing fiscal year, Rs 31.25 lakh has been disbursed among victims as compensation, he said.

Interacting with mediapersons at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in the District Judicial Complex here today, he said the rape or acid attack victims, people injured in accident and kin of dead persons could avail the benefits of this scheme. He said that victims hurt due to mishaps could avail a maximum compensation of Rs 40,000, kin of a person who had died due to accident or murder could avail compensation up to Rs 1 lakh, rape victims up to Rs 3 lakh and acid attack victims up to Rs 3 lakh besides reimbursement of the entire medical expenses.

To get the compensation, victims can simply move an application with the authority and it will be processed within 60 days.

The Civil Judge said eight categories, including women, children, SC/ ST, victims of natural calamities, people with annual income below Rs 1.50 lakh and others, were eligible for legal aid. As many as 130 paralegal volunteers have been appointed in the district to inform the people about various programmes of the authority, he said.

The Civil Judge further said that 1,659 people had availed free legal aid in the district during the current year. He said that 14 lok adalats were organised during the period in which 33,810 cases were heard, adding that 8,348 cases were settled and compensation worth Rs 28.62 lakh was provided.