any loss or injury by reason of the act for which the accused person has been so sentenced. (4) An order under this section may also be made by an Appellate Court or by the High Court or Court of Session when exercising its powers of revision. (5) At the time of awarding compensation in any subsequent civil suit relating to the same matter, the Court shall take into account any sum paid or recovered as compensation under this section.” 6SLPR 2653-54/2016 19 Way back in 1981, this Court speaking through Krishna Iyer, J. in Maru Ram vs Union of India & Others3, held that while social responsibility of the criminal to restore the loss or heal the injury is part of the punitive exercise; the length of the prison term is no reparation to the crippled or bereaved and is futility compounded with cruelty. Section 357 provides power to award compensation to victims of the offence out of the sentence of fine imposed on accused. Time and again this Court has reiterated that it is an important