On Friday, the Supreme Court ordered all the government and private hospitals in the country to provide first-aid and medical treatment free of cost to the acid attack victims.

Justices Madan B. Lokur and Uday made it clear that all the hospitals should strictly adhere to the court decision and any kind of opposes on the acid victims are strictly not tolerable which can lead to serious consequences further.

In 2006, an acid victim Laxmi filed a petition that she was neglected by the hospitals for treatment. Based on her petition, the court passed this order. It empowered the states and Union Territories to take action against hospitals and clinics for refusal to treat victims of acid attacks and other crimes in contravention of the provisions of Section 357-C of the CrPC
Free treatment in the sense doesn't mean that it is the basic first aid or up to the stabilization of the acid attack victim, but the complete treatment including medicines, bed and food for such victims.

When the compensation for acid victim topic was heard by the court, it specified clearly that Rs 3 lakhs was only the minimum amount that should be paid wothou fail. The maximum amount would depend on the nature of the injury sustained by the victim and treatment provided..

SC asked the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), comprising the district judge, the district magistrate, the superintendent of police, the chief medical officer etc. of the state or his nominee to examine each claim of the acid attack victim so that it can be a good mechanism for claiming compensation, and also file appropriate criminal cases against the offenders.

Most of the states/UTs had issued notifications banning sale of acid across the counter to avoid any such attacks in the future again. SC gave a grace period of 3 months for all the states/UTs to completely ban the counter sales of acid. “After 3 months, if any such sales are found again, the consequences are going to be severe” it warned.

by Phani