Madras HC orders Rs 4 lakh interim compensation to POCSO victim

The Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay Rs 4 lakh as interim compensation to a victim of child sexual assault, taking into account her ongoing education. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the order while disposing of a petition filed by the victim's mother seeking compensation under the Tamil Nadu Child Victim Compensation Fund under the POCSO Act, 2012.

The victim was sexually assaulted when she was studying in Class 11, and consequently became pregnant. The foetus was aborted. The court noted that the final compensation could be up to Rs 10 lakh, and since the victim is now studying an undergraduate course in a government college, the judge deemed Rs 4 lakh appropriate for interim release.

The court directed the authorities of the Social Welfare Department to pay the compensation amount within four weeks from the date of receipt of the order copy.