Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has given the green light to amendments in the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme 2018, allowing for ex gratia payments to victims of mob violence and lynching, as disclosed by Raj Niwas officials on Friday. Notably, the move comes after a prolonged period, with officials mentioning that the Delhi government, despite a 2018 Supreme Court directive, took five years to present the proposal.
Under the revised scheme, the term 'victim' has been expanded to encompass the guardian or legal heir of an individual who has endured harm, injury, or fatality due to mob violence or lynching. The proposed interim relief aims to disburse compensation to the victim or the next of kin within 30 days of the incident, as highlighted by an official statement.
The Supreme Court's 2018 directive mandated state governments to formulate a lynching/mob violence compensation scheme within one month, emphasizing considerations like bodily and psychological injuries, loss of earnings, and the impact on opportunities for employment and education. The amendments aim to address these aspects comprehensively, acknowledging expenses incurred on legal, medical, and other adversities stemming from mob lynching or violence.
While the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme, 2018 was officially notified with the then LG's approval on June 27, 2019, it lacked provisions for compensating victims of lynching and mob violence, according to the officials.
