The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Acid attacks: report sought on rehabilitation of victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Acid attacks: report sought on rehabilitation of victims

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the State Government to file by October 5 a report on what steps a high-powered committee of officials had taken for rehabilitation of acid attack victims in the Karnataka.

A Division Bench comprising Justice S.R. Bannurmath and Justice Subash B. Adi passed the order on a public interest litigation petition by Campaign and Struggle Against Acid Attacks on Women (CSAAW), a non-government organisation.

The NGO had urged the court to direct the State to take comprehensive steps to provide relief and rehabilitation to acid victims, apart from initiating several other measures for their welfare.

Sheila Ramanathan, who appeared for the NGO, said a survey carried out by the organisation had found that there are 54 acid attack victims in the State. Recently, four women had been injured in acid attacks and two had died.

The Bench then asked the State Public Prosecutor (SPP), S. Dore Raju, whether any budgetary provision had been made this year for acid attack victims. The SPP replied that steps are under way in this regard.

The Bench noted that it had passed a series of orders on rehabilitation of acid attack victims in 2006 and asked the SPP about their status. The SPP submitted that the Bench could pass further directions to the officials so that they could file a report.

He said a steering committee consisting of principal secretaries of several departments had been constituted and that it had been meeting to discuss the rehabilitation schemes for acid attack victims.

The Bench then informed both the NGO and the SPP that they could suggest points relating to prevention of acid attacks, investigation and curative aspects. The court could go through these points and then pass guidelines or directions.

Increase awareness

The NGO said people needed to be made more aware of acid attacks and the first aid measures needed for victims. It said in many cases, the corrosion of the human body could have been prevented if first aid was applied.

The Bench observed that acid is freely available in the market and both the NGO and the SPP could suggest measures to restrict or regulate the supply of acid. It said establishments selling acid would have to note down the identity of the purchaser, the address and other details. It asked the SPP to consult officials of the State on how the sale and manufacture of acid and other corrosive liquids could be regulated or controlled.

The NGO then said that an officer of the rank of sub-inspector could be assigned to investigate acid attacks. Besides, a mobile team of forensic experts could be constituted so that it could expeditiously reach the scene of acid attack and ensure that evidence is not lost It said private hospitals should provide treatment to acid attack victims. The Bench said it could issue guidelines to the police to ensure that an inspector investigated the case. However, such a direction would not work in rural areas.

It also asked the SPP to look into the provisions of the law under which property of accused, who had not paid compensation to the victims, could be confiscated. The Bench adjourned further hearing on the case to October 5.

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