NHRC asks Delhi govt to pay Rs 1-lakh relief to sexual assault victim

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reiterated that the Delhi government pay Rs one lakh as relief in a case of sexual assault of a minor girl on the night of October 2, 2013.

The NHRC observed during the course of enquiry that due to <g data-gr-id="26">violation</g> of human rights of the minor girl, the state would be vicariously liable. The Commission, as per Section 18 (a) (i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has recommended the Delhi government to make payment of compensation or damages to the complainant or to the victim or the members of her family, as the NHRC considers necessary.

The Delhi government has been asked to send the compliance report along with the proof of payment within six weeks. In the response dated April 15, 2015 to the NHRC’s <g data-gr-id="21">showcause</g> notice of January 29, 2015, the Delhi government had said that the onus to pay monetary relief to the victim should lie on the accused instead of the hospital administration, which was likely to send wrong signals.

It had admitted the incident and said that the minor victim, aged 15, was neither an in-patient nor a relative of any in-patient. 

The accused, a class four employee of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, had brought the victim from outside. He was released on bail and the Suspension Review Committee had decided to revoke his suspension with effect from June 24, 2014. The criminal case was pending trial.