HC Directs Odisha Govt To Pay Compensation To Mentally Challenged Rape Victim

Cuttack: In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to pay Rs 5 lakh interim compensation to a 22-year-old mentally and physically challenged rape victim.

The court, while directing the government to keep the amount as fixed deposit in the bank account of the victim, also directed the government to pay Rs 3 lakh, if the victim delivers a baby boy and Rs 5 lakh if she delivers a baby girl, within 10 days of the delivery.

The court announced its order while rejecting the plea of the victim’s mother to terminate the pregnancy of her daughter. The court ruled that under the provision of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, a woman is not allowed to terminate the pregnancy, if it has crossed 20 weeks. As the pregnancy period is now more than 24 weeks, the victim cannot be allowed to terminate it.

As per the complaint lodged by the mother of the victim, her daughter was raped by a neighbour about one-and-a-half months back. When the victim showed the sign of pregnancy, the family members asked her about the incident. Being a speech impaired, she could not say anything, but hinted at the house of her neighbour.

Following the information, the family had lodged a complaint in Kujang police station. While the investigation is underway, the accused is at large.