Delhi HC asks government to release Rs 10 cr to DSLSA

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the AAP government to immediately release Rs 10 crore to the Delhi State Legal Service Authority (DSLSA), after the latter said at least 308 cases to provide compensation to rape victims were pending.

DSLSA, which provides monetary compensation to rape victims, accused the government of starving the Rape Victim Compensation Scheme of funds.

The Delhi government assured the court that Rs 40 crore will be made available to DSLSA, a proposal for which will be cleared by the Cabinet soon.

The government also told the High Court that it will soon introduce self-defence classes for girls studying in state-run schools.

The government's stand was made known after a Division Bench of Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice Yogesh Khanna asked the authorities if self-defence courses could be made part of school curricula and suggested that girl students could be taught special techniques of self-defence on a priority basis.

The court noted that these classes are aimed to arm and strengthen the girls and ensure their self-protection.

Taking into account the increasing crime against women in the national capital, the court told the Delhi government: "You have to train them."

Following the High Court's suggestion, Delhi's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra said he had got instructions from the government that self-defence classes will be introduced on a priority basis in the coming months.

Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal, who was present in the court, contended that six rapes are reported daily in Delhi and asked the court to look into the issue of shortage of police to deal with the increasing crime rate.