Allahabad high court orders free treatment to two acid attack survivors

|

PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 28874 of 2014 Anshika Singh & 5 Others versus Union of India & Ors. The petition was filed by seven law students and waas based on an investigation conducted by the students during their internship with SLIC. The students responded to newspaper reports which appeared on 3 May, 2014, in leading newspapers highlighting a case of an acid attack in Allahabad. The victim, Sushila succumbed to her injuries after being admitted to the Burn Ward of S.R.N. Hospital, Allahabad. She was 27 and had 50-60% burn injuries. Her sister and 3-year-old son also received burn injuries. After hearing this PIL, the Allahabad High Court on May 29, 2014, said in its order, "We direct that the line of treatment as recommended by the surgeon at the Special Burns Unit of S.R.N. Hospital, Allahabad shall be pursued without any costs or expenses being recovered from either of the two patients. In order to enable the court to assess what compensation should be awarded, we direct that a further report stating the exact nature of the injuries which were sustained by the sister of the victim of the acid attack and by her infant son shall be placed on the record within a period of one week from today. We would also direct that before the next date of hearing, a progress medical report in regard to the condition of the two patients, the line of treatment administered and the nature of the future rehabilitation required shall be placed on the records of this Court. This exercise shall be completed by 4 July 2014."