The case pertains to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO in 2023, seeking proper enforcement of the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in Laxmi v. Union of India.
New Delhi, March 20 – The Supreme Court has advised acid attack survivors facing delays in receiving compensation to approach their respective State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) for assistance.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar made this observation while hearing a petition filed by the Mumbai-based NGO, Acid Survivors Sahas Foundation. The NGO had raised concerns that survivors in Maharashtra were struggling to get their rightful compensation.
The Chief Justice said, “Just get in touch with the state legal services authorities (SLSAs).” The bench further clarified, “The victims will be at liberty to approach the state legal services authorities in case of delay in payment of compensation.”
The court also instructed SLSAs to maintain a proper record of compensation claims. This record must include details such as when the survivors or their families applied for compensation and the date on which they received the payment. If there were delays, the Supreme Court would be notified.
During the hearing, the court noted that the Centre and 11 states had not yet submitted their replies to the petition. Granting them four more weeks, the court scheduled the next hearing for the first week of May.
Laxmi v. Union of India Verdict
The case pertains to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO in 2023, seeking proper enforcement of the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in Laxmi v. Union of India. This landmark ruling mandated several crucial protections and benefits for acid attack survivors, including:
- Free medical treatment for survivors in both government and private hospitals.
- Minimum compensation of Rs 3 lakh from the respective state governments for aftercare and rehabilitation.
- Additional compensation of Rs 1 lakh as per the Victim Compensation Scheme 2016.
Despite these directions, the NGO argued that many survivors had still not received adequate financial support. The plea, filed through advocate Shashank Tripathi, highlighted that several survivors were struggling to access monetary relief even years after their attacks.
The petition further urged the Supreme Court to increase the compensation amount for acid attack victims. It also recommended that survivors’ cases should be heard by fast-track courts to ensure speedy justice.
The plea pointed out that while laws and schemes exist to help survivors, systemic inefficiencies make it difficult for them to receive benefits. Many survivors have to navigate complex bureaucratic procedures to claim their rightful compensation.
The NGO also informed the court that despite previous orders, many private hospitals still demanded advance payments before providing emergency treatment to acid attack victims. The petition stated that the high cost of reconstructive surgeries remained a major obstacle for many survivors who lacked financial resources.
