Patna Gets India’s First Victim Rights Centre for Crime Victims

Patna has become the location of India’s first Victim Rights Centre, a new initiative designed to help crime victims access legal assistance and other support services through a single point. Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant inaugurated the centre at the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BSLSA) in Patna on September 26, 2026.

The centre has been introduced as a pilot project under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its main purpose is to make it easier for victims to access rights and assistance that are otherwise spread across different departments and institutions.

Single-Window Support for Victims

Crime victims often have to approach several authorities, including police stations, hospitals, courts and government departments. The new centre aims to simplify this process by providing a single point of entry and coordinating with the agencies involved in a victim’s case.

The centre will maintain a unified case record for each victim and monitor whether available services and entitlements are being provided. These may include free legal aid, emergency medical treatment, compensation, protection measures, copies of FIRs and assistance during court proceedings.

Cases will remain open until the required relief has been obtained and verified, or until closure is requested in writing. The system is intended to help ensure that victims do not have to repeatedly navigate different institutions to access support.

Coordination With Existing Agencies

The Victim Rights Centre will work through existing institutions rather than functioning as a separate statutory body. It will coordinate with police authorities, hospitals, Child Welfare Committees, One Stop Centres, government departments and organisations working in victim assistance.

The initiative does not itself distribute compensation. Instead, its role is to help victims access compensation and other benefits available under existing laws and government schemes.

The project also proposes recognising “situational victims.” This includes dependent family members of sole earning members who remain in prison as undertrials, as well as people acquitted after prolonged detention who may return to disrupted family, social and economic circumstances.

Twelve-Month Pilot in Patna

The centre will initially operate across Patna district for 12 months. Its functioning and results will then be evaluated, with the possibility of expanding the model to other districts through District Legal Services Authorities.

Alongside the Victim Rights Centre, a Transgender Helpline was also launched during the programme. The helpline is intended to help transgender persons access services such as identity documentation, healthcare, housing, employment and welfare benefits.

A fleet of Multi Utility Vehicles was also flagged off during the programme. A publication containing the centre’s scheme, standard operating procedure and prescribed forms was released to support its implementation.

The Patna pilot represents an effort to bring different forms of victim assistance together through a coordinated system. If the model proves effective during its first year, it could provide a framework for similar centres in other districts across the country.

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