Punjab and Haryana High Court to fast track acid attack cases

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday said that it had sought information from both states ON acid attacks and intends to fast track such cases.

The court announced its decision as a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul took up an acid attack case in Punjab's Moga district.

The high court, which had taken notice of the incident suo moto following media reports, directed the Punjab government to pay compensation to the father-daughter duo, who were victims of the acid attack and to ensure their medical treatment.

The victims, Mandeep Kaur and her father, Shamsher Singh, became victims of acid attack July 11 when they were going to the district courts in Moga town, 160 km from here, to attend a court case.

Both were later admitted to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana due to serious injuries following the attack.

The Punjab Police told the court that all four accused in the acid attack case had been arrested and a charge sheet would be filed against them within 15 days.

Expressing concern over increasing incidents of acid attacks, Chief Justice Kaul said that he intends to fast track the latest case involving acid attack, and also all other such cases pending in the courts below.

"We have called for information from districts regarding pending cases involving acid attacks," he said.