The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Award to acid attack victim upheld

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Award to acid attack victim upheld

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, FEB. 8. The Supreme Court has upheld an order passed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court awarding Rs. 5 lakhs as compensation to a college girl, who lost her left eye when another student threw acid on her.

A Bench of Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice A.K. Mathur thereby dismissed a special leave petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary challenging the High Court order dated January 21, 1997.

On September 13, 1996, Anuradha, a final year student of B.Sc Agriculture, fell victim to the attack by one N. Srinivasa Reddy, a student of veterinary science in the college premises. Ms. Anuradha suffered 20 per cent burns while losing her left eye, ear and the left breast, apart from severe burns on her hands and legs.

On a petition filed by students of the College of Agriculture, the High Court directed the State Government to provide full and complete treatment to the victim; pay Rs. 5 lakhs as compensation for the neglect on the part of the university and criminal prosecution of the case by a special prosecutor. After paying Rs. 2 lakhs as financial assistance, no further relief was provided to her. The State Chief Secretary filed the SLP seeking to quash the High Court order.

Bangladesh example

Appearing for the victim student, counsel, P. Niroop, submitted that the Apex Court had laid down guidelines and norms to ensure the prevention of sexual harassment in work places. Similarly, the court should lay down guidelines to take care of acid attack cases as over 300 acid attack incidents were reported in the country every year. He cited the example of Bangladesh where special legislation had been enacted to deal with such cases.

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