A mother of a sexually assaulted minor girl has appealed to the authorities concerned to provide compensation to her daughter after the Juvenile Justice Board, Bishnupur allegedly failed to mention the compensation, after a final judgement was passed by the Juvenile Justice Board, Bishnupur on a POCSO case on April 28, 2021.
The National Legal Service Authority (NLSA) on Tuesday directed to take appropriate action as per Legal Service Act, 1987 to MSLSA and further stated to appraise the action taken to the victim’s mother.
She had made the appeal to the National Legal Service Authority (NLSA) to direct Manipur State Legal Service Authority (MASLA) and Bishnupur Legal Service Authority to provide compensation to her daughter as per Manipur Victim Compensation Scheme.
The victim’s mother, taking help from the Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights, sent an application to the NLSA, urging the intervention on the alleged failure of the MASLSA to act on a complaint filed before MSLSA and Bishnupur Legal Service Authority in regard to a case of compensation for a victim of POCSO, 2012.
On September 15 of 2021, a complaint was submitted to Bishnupur District Legal Service Authority at its email, requesting to provide compensation. Further on September 16, 2021, a complaint was submitted to MASLSA, since no positive action could be seen initiated by Legal Service Authority which the victim’s mother considered as an act of victimizing the sexual assault victim, as per the application.
On April 10, 2016, the minor girl was sexually assaulted by one juvenile and it was reported at Bishnupur Women Police Station. After investigation was completed, the charge sheet was submitted and the trial was completed by the Juvenile Justice Board, Bishnupur. It was held that the culprit had committed the offence punishable under section 4 of the POCSO act, 2012 as per judgment passed on April 28, 2021.
The victim’s mother on the application to the NLSA, stated that although several enquiry were made to the Bishnupur, Bishnupur District Legal Service Authority and MASLSA, no positive action could be seen taken up till date. The distress which is being experienced by the victim and its family members are not considered by the JJB, Bishnupur, Bishnupur District Legal Service Authority and MSLSA, she stated.
She further prayed for directing the MSLSA and Bishnupur Legal Service Authority to release the compensation at the earliest in the best interest of the victim.
The JJB, Bishnupur on judgment of the case reportedly ordered the father of the juvenile to pay a fine of only Rs 5,000 to the family of the victim.
