National
'AP stand on solatium to rape victims untenable'
By J. Venkatesan
NEW DELHI, JAN. 12. The National Human Rights Commission, which had directed the Andhra Pradesh Government to pay a solatium of Rs. 50,000 each to four rape victims belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, has described as ``untenable'' the Government's stand that such relief was not payable in view of a government circular.
In a recent order, the Commission said,``It is needless to emphasise that the Commission had awarded the compensation under Sec. 18 (3) of Protection of Human Rights Act which is applicable to the whole country. Any executive order of the State Government cannot override a statutory provision. This objection is untenable.``
The Commission made it clear that the relief had to be paid and a compliance report be submitted within six weeks. As cases had been registered against the delinquent officials, a status report of the same should also be sent.
The commission took cognisance of a complaint from the human rights activist, P. Pullarao of West Godavari district, about four incidents of rape and the resultant miseries and sufferings. The Commission said ``the community instead of providing the victim and her family a helping hand makes every possible effort to outcaste and throw them away on the streets. The existing governmental schemes are also not helpful and are unable to provide them relief on the premises that the culprit also happen to belong to the same caste/community''. The Commission had directed the State Government to pay Rs. 50,000 to each of the victims.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
