HC awards compensation to 6-year-old sexual assault victim, says system cannot 'undo' offence

While awarding Rs 6 lakh as compensation to a minor sexual assault victim, the Delhi HC said that the system cannot turn back the clock but can at least provide psychological security.

The Delhi High Court has awarded Rs 6 lakh interim compensation to a six-year-old victim of sexual assault, observing that though the system cannot undo the offence, it can provide psychological security or empowerment with monetary help besides prosecuting the offender. The high court, which set aside the trial court’s order awarding Rs 50,000 interim compensation to the boy-child, enhanced the amount to Rs 6 lakh, saying the previous sum was low, to say the least. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said that while attempting to quantify the compensation payable to the victim even at the interim stage, the court’s effort should be to offer monetary recompense, to the extent possible, for the atonement of the crime.