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2023 Supreme(Raj) 1930

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH
INDERJEET SINGH, J.
Aarti Dhobi - Petitioner
Versus
State Of Rajasthan and Ors. – Respondents
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 8119 of 2022
Decided On : 31-03-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Babu Lal Bairwa.
For the Respondents: Mr. Ugra Sen Yadav.

Headnote:(A) Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 - Clause 44(ii) - Indian Penal Code - Section 376

(D) - Financial aid to victims of gang rape - Petitioner, a minor victim seeking financial aid denied by respondents - Court concluded denial of aid due to lack of medical evidence is unjustified; financial support in cases of serious offences is essential - Beneficial legislation must be honored, allowing relief of 75% of prescribed aid amount. (Paras 2, 8, 10-12)

(B) Legal Principles - A victim of specified crimes is entitled to financial aid under the Rules; lack of medical evidence does not invalidate claims when charged by the police - The purpose of financial aid is immediate relief, not contingent on medical reports. (Paras 10-11)

Facts of the case:
Minor victim from SC/ST category subjected to crimes under IPC and related statutes; sought financial aid based on crime report and charges framed, but was denied due to insufficient medical evidence.

Findings of Court:
Petitioner entitled to 75% of financial aid as per rules, and denial by respondents is quashed.

Issues: Whether financial aid can be denied based on the absence of a medical report despite police charges.

Ratio Decidendi: Denial of financial aid based solely on absence of medical report contradicts the legislative intent to provide prompt support to victims of heinous crimes.

Result: Writ petition allowed; order of denial quashed.

Table of Content
1. petitioner seeks financial aid after crime. (Para 1 , 2)
2. arguments presented for and against financial aid. (Para 3 , 4)
3. court analyzes denial of aid based on evidence. (Para 5 , 8 , 9 , 10)
4. legislative intent for financial aid to victims acknowledged. (Para 6 , 7 , 11)
5. court allows petition and grants financial aid. (Para 12)

ORDER :

(Inderjeet Singh, J.)

The petitioner, as alleged in the petition, was minor at the time of alleged incident and belongs to SC/ST category, became victim and subjected to the crime for which punishment has been prescribed under the INDIAN PENAL CODE . On being denied the financial aid by the impugned order dated 15.04.2021 passed by the respondents, the petitioner victim has approached this Court seeking financial aid as provided under clause-44(ii) of the Schedule annexed with the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 (hereinafter to be referred as the Rules of 1995).

2. Brief facts as reflected from the material on record are that with regard to the crime committed on the victim, uncle of the victim lodged FIR bearing No.07/2017 at Police Station Renwal, Jaipur Rural for the offence under Sections 3 63 , 366, 376, 120-B of IPC, Section 3 /4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (hereinafter to be referred as the Act of 2012) and Section 3 (1)(w) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter to be referred as the Act of 1989). After registration of the FIR, the investigation commenced and after detailed investigation, the police found the offences, as alleged in the FIR, to be made out against the accused persons and submitted charge-sheet against the accused persons before the competent court of jurisdiction for the offences under Sections 3 63 , 366-A, 376(D), 120 of IPC and Section 5 /6 of the Act of 2012 and Section 3 (1)(w) & 3(2)(v) of the Act of 1989. Subsequently, the Special Judge, POCSO Act, 2012, District Jaipur heard the arguments and on consideration of the material on record, framed charges against the accused persons for the offences under Sections 3 63 , 366, 376(D) of IPC, Section 5 /6 of the Act of 2012 and Section 3 (2)(v) & 3-1(w) of the Act of 1989. Thereafter, the petitioner applied online to the respondents seeking relief in terms of the provisions of the Rules of 1995. The request/matter of the petitioner victim was placed before the respondent-Deputy Director, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, who vide order/recommendation dated 15.04.2021 denied to grant relief to the petitioner victim as prayed for. Hence, this writ petition has been filed by the petitioner challenging the recommendation/order dated 15.04.2021.

3. Counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondents have wrongly passed the order dated 15.04.2021. Counsel further submits that the respondents are not justified in denying the relief to the petitioner as the legislation enacted by the Legislature to provide relief to the victims in such matters, is a beneficial legislation and the petitioner victim is entitled and ought to have been granted the financial aid in terms of the provisions of the Rules of 1995.

4. Counsel for the respondents opposed the writ petition and submitted that the respondents have rightly rejected the claim of the petitioner and no case for interference by this Court is made out in the present matter.

5. Heard counsel for the parties and perused the record as well as the relevant provisions of law.

6. Since the relief sought by the petitioner, which has been denied by the respondents, relates to the provisions of Clause- 44(ii) of the Schedule annexed with the Rules of 1995, as such the same is quoted as under :-

44.

[Rape, Unnatural Offences or Gang rape].

(i).......

(ii) Gang Rape [Section 376D of the INDIAN PENAL CODE (45 of 1860)]

Eight lakh and twenty-five thousand rupees to the vic

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