The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently pulled up the state authorities for delay in releasing compensation to an acid attack victim..The Court thus directed the State Legal Service Authority to release compensation of Rs. 3 lakh to the victim within a period of four weeks from the date of passing the order..The order was passed by Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul after it was brought to the attention of the Court that interim compensation was not paid to the victim, as it was not yet received from the office of the State Legal Services Authority..The Court cited the Supreme Court judgment in Laxmi v. Union of India and Ors, wherein it was ordered that compensation of Rs. 1 lakh must be paid to acid attack victims within 15 days of occurrence of the incident or of the fact being brought to the notice of the state government. The Apex Court had further held that a balance sum of Rs. 2 lakh must be paid within two months thereafter..The occurrence of the incident at hand dates back to September 2018. Despite the FIR having been registered, no steps were initiated by the authorities concerned to award the interim compensation This reflected a casual and lackadaisical approach on their part, opined Justice Kaul..Relying on the report of the Civil Surgeon, Amritsar, the Court directed that the victim be referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh for her medical treatment. Further, the entire expenditure of her treatment was to be free of cost, as per the directions in Laxmi's case..The Court also clarified that Chief Secretaries of the States of Punjab and Haryana, as well as the adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh, were to make an endeavor to ensure that in such like cases, there should be compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit..The victim was represented by Amicus Curiae Harkirat Singh Randhawa..Read the Order here.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently pulled up the state authorities for delay in releasing compensation to an acid attack victim..The Court thus directed the State Legal Service Authority to release compensation of Rs. 3 lakh to the victim within a period of four weeks from the date of passing the order..The order was passed by Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul after it was brought to the attention of the Court that interim compensation was not paid to the victim, as it was not yet received from the office of the State Legal Services Authority..The Court cited the Supreme Court judgment in Laxmi v. Union of India and Ors, wherein it was ordered that compensation of Rs. 1 lakh must be paid to acid attack victims within 15 days of occurrence of the incident or of the fact being brought to the notice of the state government. The Apex Court had further held that a balance sum of Rs. 2 lakh must be paid within two months thereafter..The occurrence of the incident at hand dates back to September 2018. Despite the FIR having been registered, no steps were initiated by the authorities concerned to award the interim compensation This reflected a casual and lackadaisical approach on their part, opined Justice Kaul..Relying on the report of the Civil Surgeon, Amritsar, the Court directed that the victim be referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh for her medical treatment. Further, the entire expenditure of her treatment was to be free of cost, as per the directions in Laxmi's case..The Court also clarified that Chief Secretaries of the States of Punjab and Haryana, as well as the adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh, were to make an endeavor to ensure that in such like cases, there should be compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit..The victim was represented by Amicus Curiae Harkirat Singh Randhawa..Read the Order here.
