The Kerala High Court has directed KeLSA to monitor pending victim compensation payments weekly and submit a compliance report on December 2.
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to release ₹9.73 crore in pending victim compensation claims involving 225 cases, preferably within five weeks. The claims, relating to cases arising up to July 2026, had been pending before the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department since September 16, 2026. The court’s order aims to address delays in compensation payments and improve the functioning of the state’s legal services system.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. issued the directions while considering proceedings concerning the functioning of mediation centres in Kerala. The court also addressed delays in paying mediators’ honorarium, directing the government to release payments at revised rates and reconsider the amounts in light of recommendations made by the Board of Governors in 2022.
Kerala High Court Flags Delays in Victim Compensation
The matter came before the court after the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) submitted a status report on victim compensation claims. The report brought the pending payments to the court’s attention and highlighted the need for a more efficient process to ensure that eligible victims receive compensation without unnecessary delays.
According to the information placed before the bench, compensation amounting to ₹9,73,85,000 was pending across 225 cases. The claims had been awaiting clearance at the level of the state Home Department since September 16.
The court’s directions aim to address both the pending compensation cases and procedural delays, ensuring that future claims are settled and payments are made without unnecessary delays.
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KeLSA Asked to Ensure Timely Payments
The High Court directed the Member Secretary of KeLSA to take steps to ensure that victim compensation is disbursed on time. The authority has also been asked to issue appropriate directions to the secretaries of the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) concerned so that delays in processing claims and releasing payments can be avoided.
The bench emphasised that the necessary documents should be collected from victims at the time their claims are considered. It directed DLSA secretaries to obtain all required documents during adjudication itself, rather than seeking them later and causing additional delays.
This requirement is intended to make the process more efficient by reducing repeated requests for paperwork after a claim has already been examined. Collecting the relevant documents at the appropriate stage can help authorities complete verification and payment procedures more quickly.
The court also directed the KeLSA Member Secretary to review the status of compensation payments with the respective DLSAs every week. This regular monitoring is intended to help identify cases where payments remain pending and enable the authorities to take corrective action.
The Member Secretary has been asked to submit a report on the progress of compliance on December 2, the next date of hearing. The report is expected to provide the court with an update on the release of compensation and the steps taken to prevent further delays.
Mediators’ Honorarium to Be Released at Revised Rates
Apart from victim compensation, the court considered the issue of honorarium payable to mediators working under the Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre.
KeLSA informed the court that the revised honorarium rates announced by the state government were lower than the amounts recommended by the Board of Governors in 2022. The discrepancy prompted the bench to direct the authorities to examine the issue and ensure that the payments due under the revised rates are released.
The state government had issued an order on September 30, 2026, revising the honorarium rates with effect from April 1, 2026.
The court directed the KeLSA Member Secretary to submit a statement to the Secretary of the Finance Department specifying the difference payable under the revised rates. The Finance Department was instructed to release the differential amount at the earliest.
