Kerala High Court Calls for Release of ₹9.73 Crore in Pending Victim Compensation Claims Within Five Weeks

The Kerala High Court has instructed the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) to conduct weekly reviews of outstanding victim compensation payments and file a progress report by December 2.

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has called on the state government to disburse ₹9.73 crore in compensation pending across 225 cases, preferably within five weeks. The claims relate to cases reported up to July 2026 and had been awaiting approval from the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department since September 16, 2026. Through its directions, the court has sought to expedite payments to eligible beneficiaries and address procedural shortcomings in the compensation system.

The order was passed by a two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. during hearings on matters concerning the operation of mediation centres across Kerala. The bench also took up concerns over delayed honorarium payments to mediators. It asked the state to clear the applicable dues under the revised payment structure and reconsider the rates in view of recommendations made by the Board of Governors in 2022.

High Court Raises Concern Over Pending Compensation Claims

The issue came to the court’s attention through a status report submitted by the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA). The report highlighted a substantial amount of victim compensation that remained unpaid, raising concerns about delays in providing financial relief to eligible claimants.

The information presented before the bench showed that ₹9,73,85,000 was outstanding across 225 cases. These payments had been pending at the state Home Department level since September 16, 2026.

The court’s intervention is aimed at speeding up the clearance of these claims while addressing administrative hurdles that could delay similar cases in the future. Timely compensation is particularly important for eligible victims who depend on the financial assistance provided through the legal services system.

Also Read :- Abhimanyu Murder Case Trial Begins After Eight Years; All 16 Accused Appear in Similar Attire and Masks

KeLSA Directed to Monitor Disbursements Regularly

The High Court instructed the Member Secretary of KeLSA to take the necessary steps to ensure that compensation reaches eligible beneficiaries without avoidable delays. The authority was also asked to issue appropriate instructions to the concerned District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) to improve coordination and expedite the processing of pending claims.

The bench stressed that documentation requirements should be addressed at the appropriate stage of the proceedings. Secretaries of the respective DLSAs were directed to collect all necessary documents when compensation claims are considered, rather than requesting additional paperwork at a later stage.

According to the court’s directions, following this procedure could help minimise repeated documentation requests and make the verification and payment process more efficient. Ensuring that the required records are available from the outset may also reduce administrative delays after a claim has been examined.

The court further asked the KeLSA Member Secretary to review the status of pending compensation payments with the concerned DLSAs every week. Regular assessments are expected to help authorities identify cases that have not progressed and take timely steps to resolve outstanding issues.

Court Examines Delays in Mediators’ Honorarium

The bench also considered delays and discrepancies concerning honorarium payments to mediators working under the Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre.

During the proceedings, KeLSA informed the court that the honorarium rates revised by the state government were lower than those recommended by the Board of Governors in 2022. The difference between the revised rates and the earlier recommendations prompted the court to seek further details about the payments due.

The state government issued an order on September 30, 2026, revising the honorarium rates with effect from April 1, 2026.

The High Court directed the Member Secretary of KeLSA to prepare and forward a statement to the Secretary of the Finance Department detailing the difference payable under the revised rates. The Finance Department was asked to release the outstanding differential amount at the earliest.

The court also asked the state government to reconsider the revised honorarium rates in light of the recommendations made by the Board of Governors in 2022.

Through these directions, the High Court has addressed two administrative concerns: the timely payment of compensation to eligible victims and the clearance of outstanding dues to mediators. The matter is expected to come up again on December 2, when the court will review the compliance report and assess the progress made by the concerned authorities.