Background of the Case
The court's order emerged from a petition filed by M. Depalakshmi, whose husband, Senthilkumar, is incarcerated in the Vellore Central Prison. Depalakshmi approached the court to ensure that her husband received the A-Class privileges already conferred upon him, as stipulated under Rule 233 of the Tamil Nadu Prison Rules. She contended that the prison authorities had failed to uphold these privileges.
Concerns Over Victim Compensation Fund Disbursement
Beyond the issue of prison privileges, Depalakshmi raised serious concerns regarding the disbursement of the Victim Compensation Fund. She highlighted that 20% of prisoners' wages are deducted to contribute to this fund, asserting that since the fund is created from the inmates' earnings, they have a vested interest in ensuring its proper utilization. Depalakshmi referenced a news article indicating that a substantial amount of ₹11.61 crore remained unused within the prison department due to a lack of awareness and societal stigmas, with only 419 victims benefiting from the fund over the past eight years.
Court's Directive for Audit
In response to these concerns, the bench comprising Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice M. Jothiraman directed the Accountant General to deploy a team of Accounts Officers to audit the accounts as per Rule 10 of the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Fund Rules, 2009. The audit aims to assess the correctness of the accounts and the genuineness of the payments made to victims. The court mandated that this audit be completed within two weeks across all eight central prisons where District Level Committees have been established under Rule 5 of the same rules. The Accountant General has been instructed to submit the audit report by January 30, 2025.
Implications of the Audit
This court-ordered audit holds significant implications for the administration of the Victim Compensation Fund in Tamil Nadu. Firstly, it seeks to identify any discrepancies or inefficiencies in the management and disbursement of the fund, ensuring that the deducted wages of prisoners are utilized effectively and reach the intended beneficiaries. Secondly, the audit is expected to shed light on systemic issues, such as the underutilization of available funds, potentially due to a lack of awareness among victims or societal stigmas preventing them from coming forward. Addressing these issues could lead to reforms that promote greater accessibility and utilization of the fund by eligible victims.
Conclusion
The Madras High Court's proactive stance in ordering an audit of the Tamil Nadu Victim Compensation Fund underscores the judiciary's role in upholding transparency and accountability within public institutions. By scrutinizing the management of the fund, the court aims to ensure that the financial contributions made by prisoners are rightfully and effectively used to compensate victims, thereby reinforcing the principles of justice and fairness in the state's correctional and rehabilitative systems.
0 Comments
Thank you for your response. It will help us to improve in the future.