Authorised ₹36.50 Crores To Clear Victim Compensation Arrears, ₹12.26 Crores Towards Arrears In Mediator Fees: State Tells Kerala High Court
The Additional Chief Secretary of Kerala's Finance Department has filed an affidavit before the High Court stating that the department has authorised an amount of ₹36.50 Crores for clearing the arrears of victim compensation and ₹12.26 Crores towards settlement of arrears of mediator fees.
Last week, the Court had remarked that it would pass orders to attach the Treasury accounts of the State government in case the amounts due to the Victim Compensation Fund and the fees to the mediators are not paid within a week.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was hearing two pleas, including a suo motu petition concerning the infrastructural requirements of mediation centres, adequate support staff and regular office stationary.
In the State's affidavit regarding victim compensation fund dues, it is further stated that the government is only one among the several contributors to the fund and that even though orders were issued for its constitution, the fund has not been operationalised in the last 8 years from the framing of rules. Moreover, the Law and Home departments are taking steps to do the same based on the communications of the Additional Chief Secretary requesting necessary action, it is stated.
The Court also recorded the State's submission that it has been continuously meeting the expenditure toward victim compensation from its own resources since the fund was not operationalised and due to the prevailing fiscal constraints, the finance department would not be in a position to sustain the full financial responsibility indefinitely.
The Court then directed the Secretary to the government, Finance department to be virtually appear before it on March 30 for considering the issues regarding the payments. Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) Secretary is also to file an affidavit disclosing utilisation of the fund allocated.
The High Court's counsel submitted that it is filing an affidavit regarding the infrastructural issues and the same would be served upon the State on the same day. Considering the same, the Bench directed the State to file an affidavit dealing with the same.
The matter is posted on March 30 (Monday) next.
Case No: WP(C) Nos. 42844 and 48511 of 2025
Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case
Counsels: O.M. Shalina (DSGI), Shibi K.P., Leo Lukose - KeLSA, Ramola Nayanpally - Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre, Vinitha B. (Sr. GP), N. Manoj Kumar
Amicus Curiae: Adarsh Kumar