Allahabad HC wants to know if minor rape survivor is entitled to compensation

Prayagraj, July 18 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has directed the Bulandshahr District Magistrate to apprise it whether a minor rape survivor, whose pregnancy was terminated by a court order, is entitled to compensation under the UP Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh-2015 as well as whether the mother of the victim, being a labourer, is entitled to a residence under the PM Awas Yojana.

On Monday, the court on Monday further sought the status of the investigation being conducted pursuant to the registration of the FIR in the rape case.

The high court has fixed August 9 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The bench comprising Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar passed the order in a writ plea filed by the 12-year-old rape survivor, who also has hearing and speech impairment, and had sought to terminate her 25-week pregnancy.

During the course of hearing, state government had apprised the court that pregnancy of the girl was terminated in the night of July 15-16.

Raghav Arora, the counsel for the petitioner, said: “On the next date, the state government will apprise that whether the rape survivor is entitled to compensation under UP Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh, 2015 and what is the status of investigation in the criminal case.”

Earlier on July 12, high court allowed the rape survivor to undergo medical termination of pregnancy after taking into account the medical board’s opinion that the continuation of pregnancy poses a greater risk to her physical and mental health due to her “tender age”.