Is rape worth Rs 6500? Supreme Court raps MP govt on meagre compensation to survivors

Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

New Delhi: A shocked and angry Supreme Court on Thursday rapped the Madhya Pradesh government and asked whether it thought that rape was worth mere Rs 6500.

Madhya Pradesh has been reporting highest number of rape cases every year since past several years according to National Bureau of Crime Records (NCRB).

In 2016 (latest figure available), the state recorded 4889 rapes with 2479 cases of minor rapes. 

The Apex Court’s strong reaction came following a MP government affidavit that showed that the state was disbursing mere Rs 6000 to Rs 6500 per rape survivor despite being among the states getting maximum funds under the Nirbhaya scheme of the central government.

In an affidavit filed in response to a SC notice on petitions filed following the December 2012 Delhi gang rape, the MP government stated that it had disbursed around Rs One Crore to 1951 rape survivors.

The SC bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, expressed shock at the affidavit and said, "According to you and your affidavit, on an average, you are paying Rs 6,000 to a rape victim. Are you doing a charity? How can you do so? You value a rape at Rs 6,500?" sources said.

The bench reportedly termed the details as ‘shocking’ as despite getting the maximum amount under the Nirbhaya Fund, the state had spent such meagre amount for compensation.

The Supreme Court also rapped Haryana government for failing to file the affidavit on compensation to rape survivors under Nirbhaya scheme, despite the notice last month.