JOIN USAcid attacks on women non-bailable offence: SC
The Supreme Court on Thursday made acid attack a non-bailable offence and ordered all state governments to pay Rs 3 lakh compensation to acid attack victims. The states were also directed to frame rules for regulating sale of acid within three months.
A bench of justices R M Lodha and S J Mukhopadhaya said the corrosive substance should not be sold unless the buyer produces a photo identity card containing residential address.
The material cannot be sold to a person who is below the age of 18 years, the court said.
Hearing a PIL filed in 2006 by Delhi-based acid attack victim Laxmi, the court passed a slew of interim directions on various issues.
Going through the compensation schemes of 17 states and seven Union Territories (UTs), the bench found the amount being paid to the victims as “grossly inadequate.”
The compensation for after-care and rehabilitation at present ranges between Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,50,000.
“It cannot be overlooked that acid attack victims need to undergo a series of plastic surgeries and other corrective treatment.
The solicitor general suggested to us that the compensation to be paid by the states must be enhanced to at least Rs 3 lakh.
“The suggestion is very fair. We accordingly direct that the acid attack victims shall be paid a compensation of at least Rs 3 lakh by the state government concerned as an after-care and rehabilitation cost,” the court said. The court also said Rs 1 lakh from the total compensation should be paid within 15 days of the occurrence of the attack being brought to the notice of the state government.
“The balance of Rs 2 lakh shall be paid by the state or the UT concerned as expeditiously as possible and positively within two months of the incident,” it said.