Madurai
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday took into consideration the plight of a woman and recommended award of compensation. It directed the District Legal Services Authority of Tirunelveli to conduct an enquiry into her necessities and award a compensation of not less than ₹ three lakh.
A division bench of Justices S. Vimala and T. Krishnavalli ordered that the compensation, as contemplated under Section 357 (a)(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, be paid after the enquiry was conducted under Section 374 (5) of The Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Scheme, 2013, within a period of two months from the date of the order.
The court also observed that the Sponsorship and Foster Care Fund available with the District Child Protection Society empowers it to grant ₹2,000 for children below 18 years of age who are pursuing education. The Society can verify the educational status of two girl children of the woman and provide monthly financial assistance to each child.
The court was hearing a criminal appeal moved by the woman’s husband, who is alleged to have killed their son. The First Additional District Sessions Judge, Tirunelveli, had awarded life sentence for him for murdering his only son. The HC subsequently dismissed the appeal and confirmed the lower court’s order.
The appellant, Thangavel, had moved the HC seeking to set aside the lower court’s order. The appellant allegedly indulged in harassing his wife and their son, who was a witness to this, questioned his father’s behaviour, thereby souring their relationship. The son was attacked in his sleep by the appellant with a spade, resulting in his death.
