The finance department has sanctioned ₹36.50 crore to clear arrears of victims’ compensation fund to be distributed to survivors of sexual assault and another ₹12.26 crore to clear arrears of mediators’ fees, the Additional Principal Secretary (Finance) submitted in an affidavit before the Kerala High Court.
This comes after the Supreme Court recently found that it will issue orders to freeze the accounts of the Treasury if the government does not pay the amount owed to the victim compensation fund within a week. The court heard the pleas, including those about the need to strengthen staff and infrastructure in mediation centers.
The court also warned of contempt proceedings if there was further delay in handing over the compensation amount, which is due from 2022. Appearing online before the High Court, another home secretary said the finance department should sanction the funds and that the home ministry was only a nodal department to regulate, administer and monitor the compensation scheme. Subsequently, the court directed the financial secretary to appear before it and file an affidavit.
After the affidavit was filed, the court directed the finance minister to appear online on March 30 to consider other matters related to the charges. The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) has been directed to file an affidavit in the matter.
Published – 27 March 2026 0:12 IST
