Pollachi sexual assault case: Protect identities of Pollachi case survivors while awarding compensation: Court
The Mahila Court in Coimbatore, which delivered the verdict in the sensational Pollachi sexual assault case on Tuesday, has directed authorities to ensure that the identities of survivors were protected while facilitating the release of compensation.
In her order, judge R. Nandhini Devi directed inspector Pachaiammal Sampath Kumar of the Central Bureau of Investigation and special sub-inspector Briskilla Juvanitta of the All Women Police Station, Pollachi, to produce the survivors before the District Legal Services Authority, Coimbatore, without divulging their real identity and enable them to get compensation without any hindrance.
On Tuesday, the court ordered for a total compensation of ₹85 lakh to seven out of the eight survivors in the case [contrary to all eight mentioned in earlier reports]. One survivor, who has been identified as 'F' in case files and other legal documents, was not examined as prosecution witness, according to the judgment order. Other seven survivors were described as A, B, C, D, E, G and H to protect their identities. The compensation awarded by the court for the seven survivors are — A, ₹2 lakh; B, ₹15 lakh; C and D ₹10 lakh each; E, ₹8 lakh; G ₹15 lakh; and H ₹25 lakh.
To award the compensation, the court considered the gravity of the offence, medical expenses and the factor of rehabilitation for the survivors' future under the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Scheme 2013 and Central Victim Compensation Fund Scheme, in accordance with Section 357 A of the Cr. PC and the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the landmark decision of Saibaj Noormohammad Shaikh vs The State of Maharashtra on November 4, 2024.
For awarding the compensation, the court considered the gravity of the offence, medical expenses and the factor of rehabilitation for their future life under the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Scheme 2013 and Central Victim Compensation Fund Scheme, in accordance with Section 357 A of the Cr. PC and the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the landmark decision of Saibaj Noormohammad Shaikh vs The State of Maharashtra on November 4, 2024.
The court also ordered to return a gold chain belonging to a survivor, which had been snatched by one of the convicts and later recovered by the investigators. It was one of the material objects in the case.
A. Radhika, General Secretary, All India Democratic Women's Association, Tamil Nadu, urged authorities to ensure continued protection to the families of the survivors.
Stalin announces ₹25 lakh each to survivors
Meanwhile, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh each to all the survivors in the case, in addition to a total compensation of ₹85 lakh that has been ordered by the trial court. He said that the courage of the women, who bravely fought for the justice, was commendable.
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