Compensating rape victim is govt’s obligation, not charity: HC

Rape victims are not beggars and giving compensation to women victims of crime is the state’s obligation and not charity, the Bombay High Court said , terming the Maharashtra government’s attitude as “ruthless”.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by a 14-year-old rape victim, seeking Rs three lakh as compensation under the government’s ‘Manodhairya Yojana’.

The girl, a resident of suburban Borivali, alleged that she was raped by a man who had promised to marry her.