1. Dr S. Muralidhar Judge, Delhi High Court 13th March, 2016
Rights of Victims
Dr S. Muralidhar
Judge, Delhi High Court
13th March, 2016

2. Broad Themes Victims – Definition
Victims in the Criminal Justice System
Victimology in Indian Jurisprudence
The unfinished agenda

3. 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 loss 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 convicted 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 harm in intervening to assist victims in distress or to prevent victimization.

4. 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;

5. 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

6. 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”

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Measures of redress for Victims
Access to Justice and Fair Treatment
Restitution
Compensation
Assistance

11. 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