The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned a petition filed by a human trafficking victim, seeking payment of Rs 19 lakh under the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme 2018, after the Delhi State Legal Services Authority submitted that an interim compensation of Rs 2,50,000 has already been paid to the petitioner on October 7.

A Single-Judge Bench of Justice Rekha Palli adjourned the matter after the DSLSA submitted that the final compensation can only be awarded, once the trial court passes its judgment and directs them to release the compensation.

Advocate Joicy Milunzou, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, contended that the final compensation under the DVC Scheme can be granted without the judgment by the trial court and sought time to place the same on record.

The petition was filed by a young woman from Meghalaya, aged about 20 years, who was lured and trafficked to Delhi by some persons on the pretext of providing a job. 

According to the plea, she was brought to Delhi on January 11, 2020 and was later sent to Malviya Nagar, where she was forced into commercial sexual exploitation. 

The plea averred that on February 2, 2020, another girl belonging to her community was brought to the said place and she too was forced into commercial sexual exploitation. However, the girl some how managed to escape from the place and later came with the police on February 14, 2020 to rescue the petitioner, after which she was taken to a safe place.

The plea contended that at the instance of the petitioner, an FIR was registered at Police Station Malviya Nagar and the trial is pending before the Trial Court. On February 22, the victim made representation for grant of compensation before the concerned authorities, however, no concrete action on her representations has been taken yet. 

The petition has been filed by Advocates Alana Golmei, Joicy Milunzou and Olivia A.I. Bang and has been listed for further hearing on February 9, 2022.