STATUTORY VICTIM COMPENSATION SCHEMES: ACCESSIBILITY, QUANTUM, AND ENFORCEMENT

Author

Priyanshi Choudhary, Dr. Shailash Sharma


Abstract

 Victim compensation is an essential component of a justice system that recognises the physical, psychological, social and economic consequences of crime. Traditionally, criminal proceedings have concentrated on the prosecution and punishment of offenders, often leaving victims with inadequate financial assistance, rehabilitation and institutional support. In India, statutory victim compensation schemes seek to address this imbalance through Section 396 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which provides for victim compensation schemes, together with related provisions concerning medical treatment and compensation for victims of crime. These provisions must be understood alongside the constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity and access to justice, judicial precedents and state-specific compensation rules. This paper critically examines the accessibility, quantum and enforcement of statutory victim compensation in India. It argues that the effectiveness of compensation depends not merely on the existence of legislation but also on public awareness, simplified application procedures, uniform minimum standards, timely disbursement and effective administrative accountability. It concludes that a victim-centred compensation framework must combine financial relief with rehabilitation, transparency and enforceable procedural safeguards.


Keywords

Victim compensation, BNSS, criminal justice, access to justice, quantum of compensation, legal enforcement, rehabilitation.



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References


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