Compensate raped tribals: Madras HC

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay the statutory pre-trial compensation, within six weeks, to tribals of Vachathi village, in Dharmapuri district, who were raped in June 1992.

Giving the direction on a PIL filed by Tamil Nadu Tribals Association (TNTA), a Division Bench comprising Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice V Dhanapalan told the government to identify, within a week, which department would bear the compensation.

As many as 269 persons —— 155 forest, 108 police and six revenue department officials—- have been charged for various offences including rape and rioting. The CBI was entrusted with the case on February 24 1995. The chargesheet was filed in April 1996.

Posting the petition for hearing on June eight, the Bench told the government to file a status report on that day.

The victims were eligible for varying amounts of compensation which totalled over Rs 2.5 crore, the TNTA claimed.