AHMEDABAD: A special Pocso court in Mehsana ordered the state government to give compensation of Rs 1.50 lakh to a girl who was being stalked on her way from her home to school causing her to stop going to school due to the harassment.
The 24-year-old man accused of stalking, making obscene gestures and demanding sexual favours, Maheshji Thakor, has been sentenced to three years in jail. While convicting Thakor, special Pocso judge P S Saini heeded the prosecution’s request for compensation to the victim for physical and mental harassment.
The incident took place in Ladol town in Mehsana district.
In 2018-19, Thakor used to stalk the 17-year-old girl on her visits to school. She was studying in Class 12 and because of the harassment, she stopped going to school. Her family lodged a complaint in 2019. Thakor was booked under Sections 354A (1), 354D(1), criminal intimidation and under provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
In awarding the compensation to the victim under provision of the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme, the court said that due to this stalking, the victim has to live with a permanent scar for the rest of her life. Because of the incident, the victim’s career has been spoiled.
Awarding compensation to the victim, the HC observed stalking had ended victim’s career and left her to live with a permanent scar
Compensation for mental torture the minor had to undergo
The victim has not been subjected to any serious physical injury, but considering the mental torture that she had to undergo, it is justified to grant compensation to her, said the Gujarat high court.
The court further said that the scheme for compensation aims at rehabilitation of victims of sexual harassment in society. The harassment caused to the victim makes her eligible for the minimum compensation under the scheme, which is Rs 1 lakh. And as she is a minor, the court thought it fit to grant 50% more compensation.
The court ordered that of the Rs 1.50 lakh, 20% should be handed over and the remaining 80% be put in a fixed-deposit with a nationalized bank for at least three years or till she turns adult, whichever is earlier.
