Kerala High Court tells State to release Rs 9,73,85,000 for 225 pending victim compensation claims

19 October 2026

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. directed the State to release Rs 9,73,85,000 towards 225 claims under the Victim Compensation Scheme, preferably within five weeks. The claims had been pending before the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, since 16 September 2026 and arose up to July 2026. The court ordered that all pending disbursements be completed within three weeks of the order. The direction came in suo motu proceedings on the working of mediation centres in Kerala, in WP(C) 42844/2025 and a connected case. The Bench also directed payment of mediator honorarium at the rates in the government order of 30 September 2026, which gives Rs 4,500 for a case settled through mediation.