Mumbai: holding that compensation scheme for victims of acid attacks can be expanded to other people who suffer from defects caused by other corrosive substances, the Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to pay the compensation of Rs 10 Lakh for a Deforic Woman who is a more than one Decade ago.
In 2010, the woman, victims of domestic violence (DV), said her husband poured “boiling combustible corrosive on his face and body”.
He suffered almost 80% superficial for deep burns on his face and body.
This year, through Aditi Aditi Saxena, he approached HC for financial support under the State Manodhairya scheme and rehabilitation, equivalent to victims of acid attacks.
After spending more than Rs 5 Lakh and without more funds, he could not get further medical treatment for burns, said Saxena.
HC bench from Judge Ujjal Bhuyan and Madhav Jamdar, accepted submission, held that the legislature had not limited abuse due to hard attacks just by throwing acids.
The bench said the law included defects caused by other corrosive substances as well and therefore the provision of socio-benefit compensation for the victims or survivors “could be expanded to people who suffered similar attacks and did not need to be reduced by a strict chemical definition of ‘acid’ “.
Under the rights of persons with disabilities Act 2016, victims of acid attacks will be someone who suffers certain defects.
Here too, the term “victims of acid attack” has been defined as a disabled person due to attacks of violence by throwing acid or the same corrosive substance, said the high court.
It was added to using the expression “similar corrosive”, legislative intentions were quite clear.
The disability should not be reduced by defects just by throwing acid; Such a construction can be caused by throwing similar corrosive substances.
HC also directs the Secretary of the Mumbai District Legal Service Authority, through itself or legal volunteers of the para, to ensure that women get all the other benefits, such as registration of defects, further compensation in terms of the NalSa scheme, the assistance fund of the Prime Minister and Guidelines for the victim’s compensation fund Center, 2016, and free medical care, including for additional or reconstructive operations, and to ensure that all rehabilitation steps are available for them in law.
“It turned out that the ingredients in the notes, including the assessment of the criminal court, which boiled flammable corrosive substances poured on the face and body of the Petitioner.
According to the statement of the medical officer in the criminal trial, the applicant has suffered 70% to 80% shallow for deep burns On his face and body.
The applicant has declared an oath that has not been rejected that he has spent more than Rs 5 Lakh at Masina Hospital, Mumbai, for his treatment but because of the absolute financial constraints he cannot undergo further medical treatment including reconstructive operations, “said the High Court.
The court also directed her husband not to have access to fixed deposits and savings bank accounts.