Delhi High Court Grants Triple Compensation for Minor Victims of Sexual Abuse Under POCSO Act
The Delhi High Court has ruled that minor victims of sexual abuse are entitled to three types of compensation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court stated that interim compensation will be provided under the 2018 SOP and from the special court, along with final compensation from the special court. The court further directed that an Aadhaar card and birth certificate would be sufficient proof for compensation disbursal, expediting the process to avoid repetitive verification.
A division bench of Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Amit Bansal also issued several directives to streamline the compensation process. They instructed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to create a protocol allowing child sexual abuse survivors to request the deletion of their biometric data upon reaching adulthood. The court emphasized encrypted storage of biometric data and mandated that service providers should not access decrypted information.
Additionally, the court directed the Delhi Police and special courts to ensure strict adherence to timelines for compensation disbursal. Orders regarding compensation must be communicated to the DSLSA within three working days, and victim impact assessments should be completed within two weeks.
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