Allahabad HC seeks concrete policy framework from UP govt for compensation to acid attack survivors

The Allahabad High Court has directed Uttar Pradesh officials to present a comprehensive policy framework for supporting acid attack survivors, including compensation, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh principal secretary (home) and the principal secretary (women and child welfare) to appear before it on May 25 to present a concrete policy framework for compensation, rehabilitation and long-term support of acid attack survivors.

A division bench comprising Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad passed the order after it observed that the state had failed to establish a comprehensive support system even nine years after a survivor's life-altering tragedy.

The court further sought a proposed mechanism for medical treatment, reconstructive surgeries, counselling, education and employment assistance to the survivors.

The order was passed during a hearing for a plea filed by an acid attack survivor seeking state-backed rehabilitation.

The court, in its order dated May 14, criticised the UP government's reliance on one-time financial handouts, emphasising that a victim's recovery requires lifetime structural support rather than sporadic, minor payments and asked the government to apprise it of the manner in which compensation amounts are proposed to be rationalised keeping in view the nature and extent of injuries and lifelong consequences suffered by victims.

The court observed, ''Despite repeated opportunities granted by this Court and despite specific queries raised in earlier orders, no satisfactory explanation has been furnished as to why a structured and comprehensive policy for acid attack survivors has not yet been framed by the State Government.

''In the aforesaid circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the matter requires direct deliberation with the senior-most authorities of the concerned departments so that the impediments, if any, in formulation of an effective policy may be identified and appropriate measures may be evolved without any further delay,'' observed the bench while summoning the top two officials.