Two sisters, both victims of an acid attack, have moved the Delhi High Court with a plea that the compensation awarded to such victims be enhanced from the ₹3 lakh at present, even as the revised Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme awaits approval.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva issued notice to the Delhi government, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA), the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking their reply before February 14 on the plea of the two sisters who were attacked by a jilted lover in 2009.
The women, who were rendered visually impaired as a result of the attack, have sought enhancement of the ₹3 lakh compensation awarded to them by DSLSA in 2016. They have also sought removal of the cap on compensation awarded under the Delhi Victims Compensation Scheme.
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Clearing medical bills
They have also sought directions to the government to reimburse the ₹15 lakh they have spent on their medical bills. A bunch of similar petitions are pending before the same Bench where the victims have sought enhanced compensation.
In many cases, the victims are still paying for their medical bills to be cleared by the government.
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“The petitioners, who are victims of acid attacks, are seeking intervention of this court for a direction to the respondent (the Delhi government) herein, inter alia, for payment of enhanced compensation, exceeding the amount of Rs.3 lakh, and direction to the respondent (the Delhi government) to provide treatment to the victims free of cost,” their petition said.
Horrific attack
The sisters used to run a beauty parlour. The attacker had proposed marriage to one of them.
When snubbed, he threw acid on them on October 14, 2009. Both sisters received 15 to 20 per cent acid burns on their faces including eyes, arms, shoulders, chest and abdomen. The accused was apprehended only to be acquitted by a trail court after prosecution failed to prove its case against him.