LUCKNOW, Aug. 20 -- Taking a tough view of the delay in payment of compensation to rape victims, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has directed the district magistrates of Sitapur and Bahraich to consider the cases of the victims for grant of compensation within one month. If found entitled, the compensation shall be paid within 10 days thereafter, the court directed. A division bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai passed the orders on August 18 while allowing two petitions filed separately by rape victims from Sitapur and Bahraich. The petitions sought directions to pay compensation under the UP Rani Lakshmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh Rules, 2015, and fix accountability of officials responsible for non-compliance with the rules. "The entire purpose of providing compensation to the victims of such a gruesome crime is that the pain of the victim can be soothed urgently and the financial exigency relating to medical treatment may be addressed immediately," it said. The court further observed that such victims "not only go through physical pain and anguish but also suffer severe mental trauma". In the Sitapur case, the incident took place on December 26, 2024, and the FIR was lodged the same day. The charge sheet was filed on February 10, 2025. The petitioner's counsel submitted that under the 2015 rules, a victim falling under serial no. 6 was entitled to compensation in two instalments, with Rs 1 lakh payable within 15 days of filing of the charge sheet and the remaining amount within one month. In the Bahraich case, the incident took place on April 17, 2024, and the FIR was lodged the same day. The charge sheet was filed on August 30, 2024. Under serial no. 5 of the rules, the victim was entitled to Rs 7 lakh in two instalments - Rs 1 lakh within 15 days of registration of the FIR and Rs 6 lakh within one month of filing of the charge sheet. The court said the entire Rs 7 lakh should have been paid by September 30, 2024, but the victim had to approach the court on July 25, 2026, for non-payment. of the compensation....