HC grants ₹6 lakh to sodomy victim

‘Will give some sense of empowerment’

The Delhi High Court has granted interim compensation of ₹6 lakh to a six-year-old boy, who was subjected to sexual assault, abuse and sodomy by his uncle in the victim’s own house. “Since the system cannot turn the clock back nor ‘undo’ the offence, there is little else the court can do other than prosecute the offender and provide to the victim whatever psychological security and sense of empowerment that monetary compensation can give,” Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani rued. The court also set aside the initial compensation of ₹50,000 awarded to the boy by a trial court here saying that the sum was low, to say the least. The High Court 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 atonement of the crime.