SC directs states to provide free treatment to acid attack survivors

The Supreme Court on Monday directed all the states and Union Territories to compensate, rehabilitate and provide free treatment to the survivors of acid attacks in pursuance of guidelines issued by it earlier.

An apex court bench of Justices M. Y. Eqbal and C. Nagappan gave the direction while dealing with a case of an acid attack victim from Bihar.

The court asked the Bihar Government to pay a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the victim, besides providing her free treatment including reconstruction surgery.

The apex court bench also asked the states and UTs to provide all kind of help to such victims as provided in an earlier judgment.

The Supreme Court had in its ruling on April 10 made it mandatory for hospitals across the country to provide full and free medical treatment to the victims.

The present matter was brought before the apex court by Bihar-based NGO 'Parivartan Kendra', which has sought its direction on rehabilitation of acid attack victims alleging that private hospitals were not providing free treatment to the victims.