Rights of Victims

Dr S. Muralidhar
Judge, Delhi High Court
13th March, 2016
Broad Themes
Victims – Definition
Victims in the Criminal Justice System
Victimology in Indian Jurisprudence
The unfinished agenda
Victims - Definition
UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and
Abuse of Power, 1985
Article 1
-   "Victims" means persons who, individually or collectively, have suffered
harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic los
s or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or
omissions that are in violation of criminal laws operative within Member
States, including those laws proscribing criminal abuse of power.  
Article 2
-   A person may be considered a victim, under this Declaration, regardless
of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicte
d and regardless of the familial relationship between the perpetrator and the
victim.  The term "victim" also includes, where appropriate, the immediate
family or dependants of the direct victim and persons who have suffered har
m in intervening to assist victims in distress or to prevent victimization.
Victims - Definition
The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
Defines “Victim” in S.2 (wa) inserted only by the Code
of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008.
S.2 (wa) - “victim” means a person who has suffered any
loss or injury caused by reason of the act or omission for
which the accused person has been charged and the
expression “victim” includes his or her guardian or legal
heir;
Victims in the Criminal Justice System
At the stage of investigation
At the Prosecution Stage
Trial
Protection of the Victims as witnesses
Post trial: victims of the process
Victimology in Indian
Jurisprudence
The Constitution of India
Article 14 – Equality before law
Article 21 – Protection of life and personal liberty
Article 38 – State to secure a social order for the
promotion of welfare of the people
Article 39A – Equal justice and free legal aid
Article 41 – Right to work, to education and to public
assistance in certain cases
Article 51A(g) – “to have compassion”
Victimology in Indian Jurisprudence
International Covenant ion Civil and Political Rights
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Provisio to S. 24(8) – the court may permit the victim to engage
advocate to assist prosecution.
Second Provisio to S. 157 (1) – In cases of offence of rape,
statement of victim at residence or place of her choice.
S. 357, 357A, 357B – Compensation
S.357C – Treatment of Victims
S. 358 – Compensation to persons groundlessly arrested.
S. 372 – Right of Victim to prefer an appeal in certain cases
Chapter XXIA – Plea Bargaining
The Criminal Law(Amendment) Act, 2013
Victimology in Indian Jurisprudence
The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
S.12 – The Human Rigths Commission has an important duty to
protect rights of victims of crime and abuse of power.
Legal Services Authority Act, 1987
S. 12 – Criteria for giving Legal Services includes inter alia
members of SC and ST, victim of trafficking in human beings or
begar, woman, child, mentally ill or otherwise disabled people, a
person under circumstances of undeserved want such as victim of
a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought,
earthquake or industrial disaster..etc
Probation of Offenders Act, 1958
S. 5 - Power of court to require released offenders to pay
compensation and costs
 Victimology in Indian Jurisprudence
Law Commission Reports
84th Report – Sexual offences – Substantive law,
procedure and Evidence
152nd Report – Custodial Crimes
154th Report – Protection and Facilities to Witnesses,
Plea Bargaining, Vicitmology, Special protection in
respect of Women
198th Report – Witness protection and Identity
Protection
201st Report – Emergency Medical Care to Victims
226th Report – Compensation for Victims
Measures of redress for Victims
Access to Justice and Fair Treatment
Restitution
Compensation
Assistance
Unfinished agenda
Recognition of victims and victimhood
Recognising special categories of victims: degrees of
vulnerability
Need for a Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
Settling norms for monetary compensation and for
restitution
Sensitising law enforcement agencies
A responsive and responsible society: Collective action