HC directs State to compensate rape survivors, child born of sexual assault

Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government to compensate two rape survivors and a child born of sexual assault under the Manodhairya Scheme, which provides financial assistance, medical and legal aid, rehabilitation, and counselling to survivors of rape and child sexual abuse.

The court's division bench of Justices Sarang V. Kotwal and Ashish S. Chavan also ordered monthly financial assistance for the child under the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Child Care Scheme.

The government's January 1, 2024 resolution makes the Manodhairya Scheme retrospective for eligible pending cases from December 31, 2009 to October 21, 2013; a May 30, 2023 resolution provides ₹2,250 monthly assistance to eligible children, including those of unwed mothers.

The court was hearing petitions from cases registered at Shivaji Nagar and Amboli police stations in 2012 and 2014; the Amboli case involved a child born of rape and the scheme's retrospective applicability.

The court directed the Amboli senior inspector to submit a compensation proposal within four weeks, and a committee to decide on victim compensation and child's monthly assistance within four weeks of receiving the proposal.