Acid attack victims of 2010 to be given additional INR 2 lakh compensation

Three acid attack victims of 2010 will now receive an additional INR 2 lakh compensation along with the previously approved INR 3 lakhs, as the Bombay high court, recently directed the state government to provide the same. As per reports, the victims have been paid the amount as per the Maharashtra Victim Compensation Scheme and it is being said that the additional amount will help them undergo the necessary treatment.

The decision was announced by the division bench of justice Prasanna Varale and justice Madhav Jamdar. A petition was filed regarding the same whereby the victims sought additional compensation as a part of the amendment made in the scheme applicable to the victims. Lawyers Anu Kaladharan and Anjali Helekar informed the court that the government had provided INR 3 lakh as a part of the scheme, however, the amendment was made in 2017 whereby the compensation was increased to INR 5 lakh, basis which the additional INR 2 lakh had to be provided by the state government.

The court also informed the state government to pay the additional compensation of INR 2 lakh in the next two weeks. The decision regarding the matter was given keeping Supreme Court's instructions to pay the victims INR 3 lakh as minimum compensation amount. Sharing more information, the court also said that helping such victims is the responsibility of the state government and offering the additional amount would help avoid any prejudice. 

The judgement regarding the matter was passed on October 29, 2021, and the Indian Express quoted the bench which said, “As the issue relates to providing financial assistance too firstly, a weaker section in general i.e, women and secondly, the victims of acid attack in particular, we expect a positive response from the state government. We also hope and trust that in such cases a progressive state as claimed the State of Maharashtra may not put the riders of financial burden in providing necessary financial assistance to such acid attack victims.”

Furthermore, the women and child development department of the government have been directed to to pay the compensation in the next three months.