Taking a serious note of the callous attitude of the government officials, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) directed the District Magistrate, Thane district in Maharashtra to expedite and ensure immediate release and disbursement of the sanctioned compensation to a minor tribal girl who was raped by a forest official.
The case pertains to the rape of 16-year-old tribal girl by Forest Guard identified as Rakesh Patil at Washind village in Thane district of Maharashtra on 27 February 2021. The NHRC intervened following a complaint filed by Indigenous Lawyers Association of India (ILAI).
The police registered a case crime no. 24/2021 at PS. Vasind u/s 376/450/342 IPC read with section 6/10/12 POCSO Act with Section 3(1), (W) I, II, 3(2)(V-a) SC/ST Act. The accused was also arrested. The NHRC was informed that the District Legal Services Authority, Thane had sanctioned Rs. 30,000/- interim relief for the medical treatment of the victim, and Rs. 1,50,000/- was sanctioned as financial assistance from Assistant Commissioner Social Welfare, Thane. However, the sanctioned monetary relief was not paid to the victim due to non-receipt of the grant by the State Government.
In its latest proceedings held on 12 July 2022, the NHRC while taking serious note of the callous attitude of the officers observed “not maintaining and providing the adequate finance under such sensitive schemes, consequently leading to further harassment of the already turmoiled life of the victim and his/her family.” The NHRC directed the District Magistrate, Thane to expedite and ensure immediate release and disbursement of the sanctioned monetary relief to the victim and send a compliance report along with the proof of payment (both interim & final), sharp within six weeks.
