The Calcutta High Court has described the inability of the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and West Bengal government to pay victim compensation as a sorry state of affairs which cannot be permitted to continue for an indefinite period of time.
A survivor of human trafficking who was awarded a compensation of ₹1.5 lakh in December 2019 had approached the Court of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya for disbursement of funds. The Court directed the SLSA, the State Government Member Secretary and Finance Department, Government of West Bengal, to file a report within six weeks from the date on the steps proposed to be taken for ensuring that adequate funds were made available. Justice Bhattacharya, in the order dated June 20, said the report must indicate the funds that are proposed to be allotted to the SLSA.