The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to State governments on steps taken to enhance the rehabilitation and monetary compensation awarded to acid attack victims struggling to survive and get medical treatment.
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha observed that there was “laxity on the part of the government” to rehabilitate victims through employment, education and adequate medical care.
The hearing was based on a PIL filed by Parivartan Kendra, an NGO based in Bangalore. The PIL narrated the stories of three 18-year-old acid victims from different parts of the country – Chanchal, who suffered extensive burns on her face after four men threw acid on her in October 2012; Sabina Khatun who had “an acid bottle emptied down her throat” in June 2012 and Ritu Saini, whose relative attacked her with acid leaving her with 90 per cent burn injuries in May 2012.
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In February 6, 2013, the Supreme Court in another case had directed the government to draft appropriate regulations for sale of acid and rehabilitation of victims.
“There is laxity on your part. Everyday, we have one or two such incidents of acid attack,” CJI Lodha observed.
Appearing for the NGO, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves said compensation paid to victims should be enhanced from the current Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
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“A victim requires as much as 10 surgeries,” Mr. Gonsalves submitted in court.
The PIL also seeks specialised units for acid attack victims in district hospitals, protection for witnesses and day-to-day trial of such cases.