New Delhi, May 12: The Supreme Court today asked courts to liberally award monetary compensation to victims in criminal cases saying failure to pay the amount by the accused could make him liable for further imprisonment.
A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and H L Dattu in a judgement urged the courts to exercise the powers of awarding monetary compensation “liberally” to render justice to the victims in criminal cases.
The apex court noted that though such powers are vested under Section 357(3) of the CrPC, they are seldom used by courts.
“It is an important provision but courts have seldom invoked it. Perhaps due to ignorance of the object of it. It empowers the court to award compensation to victims while passing judgment of conviction.
–Agencies