Ranchi, Jun 19 The Jharkhand High Court on Friday directed the state government to provide monetary relief to a male acid attack victim and observed that compensation policies cannot be gender-specific.
A division bench of Justices Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, while hearing an appeal filed by the victim seeking enhancement of compensation, held that the state’s policy should not discriminate based on gender.
The court also noted that compensation under victim welfare schemes must be extended to all, irrespective of gender.
The victim had challenged provisions of the state’s compensation policy under which relief was being provided only to women acid attack victims, rendering others ineligible.
"In the absence of a specific provision to provide compensation to victims of acid attack other than females, victims of other gender are rendered ineligible for compensation," the petition stated.
The court observed that the compensation policy for acid attack victims cannot be gender-specific.
"As a matter of fact, compensation itself ought not to be decided on a gender basis," the bench said.
The victim had earlier been granted Rs 3 lakh compensation, which the court enhanced to Rs 15 lakh.
The court also ordered the state government to ensure proper treatment is meted out to the victim and asked it to bear the expenses.
The victim in his petition has also pleaded for rules to be framed by the government for the sale and procurement of acid.
In the absence of specific provisions, acid can be purchased in the market easily, the victim mentioned in his petition.
