The Madhya Pradesh high court on Thursday ordered the state government to pay Rs 200,000 as compensation to Bhuveneshwari Pardhi, a schoolteacher in Balaghat district, who was gang-raped at a 'people's court' convened by a panchayat.
Justice A K Mishra, who heard a writ petition filed by Pardhi challenging the panchayat's decision, also awarded Rs 5,000 as costs.
Pardhi, a grade-II teacher in Swarikala panchayat, was gang-raped in September 2002 for allegedly having illicit relations with a man.
The judge held that sarpanch Jiyalal Patel and panch Laxmichand Patel of the panchayat had a revengeful attitude towards Pardhi.
The duo, who had always tried to sully Pardhi's image, had intentionally convened the 'people's court' and made allegations against her, the judge remarked.