The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a survivor of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cannot be denied compensation solely because a medical report does not record physical injuries. In an order issued on October 22, 2026, a Division Bench comprising Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai directed the authorities to pay ₹3 lakh to a minor under the Uttar Pradesh Rani Lakshmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh scheme.

The court directed that the compensation be paid within 10 days of the production of a certified copy of its order. The ruling addresses the assessment of compensation for survivors of sexual offences and makes clear that the absence of visible physical injuries in a medical report cannot, by itself, serve as the sole ground for denying financial assistance. The direction requires the authorities concerned to comply within the timeframe specified by the Bench.

The case originated from an FIR registered at Sarojini Nagar police station in Lucknow on December 7, 2022. A chargesheet in connection with the case was subsequently filed on January 13, 2023. The proceedings relate to a minor survivor whose compensation under the state scheme was considered by the authorities. The matter eventually came before the Allahabad High Court for consideration.

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The Rani Lakshmi Bai Mahila Samman Kosh is a Uttar Pradesh government scheme that provides financial assistance to eligible women and girls affected by specified forms of violence. Compensation under such schemes is intended to support survivors, with eligibility and assistance determined under the applicable rules. The High Court's direction in this case concerns the rejection of compensation on the basis of the absence of physical injury marks in the medical findings.

The ruling highlights the distinction between medical evidence of physical injuries and the assessment of a survivor's eligibility for compensation. The absence of visible injuries does not, on its own, establish that a sexual assault did not occur or that a survivor is ineligible for assistance. The court's order directs the authorities to provide the specified financial relief rather than rely solely on the absence of recorded physical injuries as a reason for denial.

The authorities have been directed to release ₹3 lakh within the stipulated 10-day period after receiving a certified copy of the order. The supplied report does not provide further details about the court's reasoning or whether any additional directions were issued. The order nevertheless establishes that compensation for a minor survivor under the scheme cannot be refused solely because a medical report does not document physical injury marks.

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