Is a rape worth Rs 6500: ‘shocked’ court asks MP

Is rape worth Rs 6,500? That is what a shocked Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Madhya Pradesh government while questioning the state whether it was doing "charity" by giving this meagre amount to victims of sexual assaults.

The apex court said that it was shocking that Madhya Pradesh, which was among the states which had received maximum funds from the Centre under the Nirbhaya fund scheme, was disbursing a measly Rs 6,000 to 6,500 to each rape victim.

The Nirbhaya Fund scheme was announced by the Centre in 2013 after the sensational December 16, 2012, gang rape and murder case in Delhi, to support the initiatives of governments and the NGOs working for women's safety.

A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, while vetting the affidavit filed by Madhya Pradesh, said, "According to you (Madhya Pradesh) and your affidavit, on an average, you are paying Rs 6,000 to a rape victim. Are you doing charity? How can you do so . ... You peg a rape at Rs 6,500?"

"For Madhya Pradesh, these figures are fantastic. There are 1,951 rape victims in Madhya Pradesh and you are giving them Rs 6,000-Rs 6,500 each. Is that good, commendable? What is this," the bench asked, adding, "this is total insensitiveness".

The bench termed it "shocking" that despite getting the maximum amount under the Nirbhaya Fund, the state had only spent around Rs one crore on 1,951 rape victims. The Haryana government also faced the wrath of the top court for not filing its affidavit giving details about Nirbhaya Fund.

During the hearing, when Haryana's counsel said they would file their affidavit, the bench observed, "If you have not filed an affidavit, then it is a very clear indication of what you feel for safety of women in your state. You take your time and tell women in your state that you do not care for them," the bench said while observing that 24 states and UTs have not yet filed their affidavit as per the court's direction.