Women belonging to SCs/STs who are victims of rape and gangrape will now get relief of up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 8.25 lakh in a separate provision introduced for the first time, and those suffering other
Women belonging to SCs/STs who are victims of rape and gangrape will now get relief of up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 8.25 lakh in a separate provision introduced for the first time, and those suffering other atrocities of grievous nature will get a relief on the conclusion of a trial, even if it does not end in conviction.
The new Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Rules, 2016, notified by the government, include the words rape and gangrape specifically in the definition of atrocities against SC/ST women to enable them to get relief under the Act.
The new rules also make provision of increased relief to victims ranging from Rs 85,000 to Rs 8.25 lakh now, against the earlier amount ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 7.5 lakh.
The new rules also mandate that an investigation and filing of chargesheet in cases of atrocities against SC/ST women will now have to be completed within 60 days of committing the offence.
Earlier, there was no such time limit for filing of chargesheet, but the investigations in cases were earlier mandated to be completed within a 30-day period.
The new rules also seek to delink requirement of medical examination for getting relief amount for non-invasive kind of offences against women like sexual harassment, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of women, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe, voyeurism, stalking.
“Provision of admissible relief amount to SC/ST women for offences of grievous nature, on the conclusion of a trial, even though not ending in conviction,” an official release said.
The rules envisage that for “victims of gangrape [Section 376D of the IPC (45 of 1860)], Rs 8 lakh and Rs 25,000 be paid to the victim, with 50 per cent after medical examination and confirmatory medical report; 25 per cent when the chargesheet is sent to the court; and 25 per cent on the conclusion of a trial by the lower court.”
