Recently, Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government to pay compensation of ₹7 lacks to a minor, victim of human trafficking and rape 

The bench headed by single-judge Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya noted that the survivor was yet to receive the same.

Case Brief-

In the said matter, the survivor was trafficked from Kolkata and forced into prostitution in the Pune district. However, the minor was rescued by the police.

Minor approach High Court, seeking compensation. 

The bench noted that the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) had decided to pay the survivor an amount of ₹1,50,000 for both rape and trafficking. It noted that the said amount was decided to be paid under the West Bengal victim compensation Scheme, 2017.

However, she sought compensation of over ₹7 lakh as provided under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) Compensation Scheme for Women Victims, Survivors of Sexual Assault and Other Crimes, 2018.

In an earlier hearing held on April 4, the bench had clarified the schemes of NALSA are made to benefit all (women) survivors of crimes regardless of the State in which they are located.

"Be that as it may, this court is of the view that the petitioner/victim before the court cannot be asked to wait until the funds are sanctioned by the State Government and reach the Judicial Department. The State shall hence pay a sum of ₹7 lakhs to the petitioner within seven days from date and file a compliance report in the form of an affidavit on the next date of hearing," the bench had then ordered.

However, on the latest hearing held on May 4, it was informed that the compensation amount is yet to reach the survivor.

It then proceeded to direct the State to ensure that the amount reaches the survivor.

Advocates Kaushik Gupta and Arijit Bhusan Bagchi appeared for the Petitioner.

Advocates Debasish Ghosh and Debapriya Chatterjee represented the State.