#Section 357 CrPC

The Delhi High Court ruled that compensation awarded under Section 357(3) CrPC for pain and suffering cannot be set off against MACT awards for loss of dependency, as they compensate different heads of loss. It directed that the criminal compensation amount be kept in a fixed deposit pending the outcome of the criminal appeal, benefitting victims' families by preserving both recoveries.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that while close familial relations between accused and victim may justify reducing or waiving imprisonment under IPC 325, they cannot diminish the victim’s statutory right to fair compensation. This clarifies that sentencing discretion under Section 357 CrPC must remain separate from the financial redress owed to victims, reinforcing accountability in grievous hurt cases regardless of domestic context.