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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court on Monday granted two weeks' time to the state government of Uttar Pradesh to inform the court as to what steps have been taken by it regarding the scheme framed, if any, under the provisions of Section 357-A of Code of Criminal Procedure for payment of compensation to 'acid attack victim'.

The bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi and Ramesh Sinha passed the order in a Public Interest Litigation which was filed by students of various Law Universities in 2014. 

The plea was filed for appropriately dealing with the acid attack cases. One of the prayers made in the petition related to payment of compensation to the victims of such crime.

The plea stated that Section 357-A of CrPC mandates the State Government to prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victims or his/her dependents. The said provisions further for a scheme for the rehabilitation of victims and for taking care of medical facilities for such victims, the plea read.

For making available the benefits to the victims, the State Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authority were also impleaded in the matter. 

Moreover, the plea specifically mentioned an acid attack case that had taken place in 2013 in Harchandpur area of district Raebareli.

When the case was taken up for hearing in January 2014, the court had then directed the state counsel to seek from the district authorities of district Raebareli as to what medical aid had till date been provided to the victim in that case. 

Though the PIL had been filed years ago, when it was taken up for hearing in December last year, court noted that it had not been pursued by the petitioner students after 2014. The court had then posted the matter for the next hearing on February 6, 2023, while issuing notice to the petitioners to appear.

On Monday, when the matter was again taken up, a short counter-affidavit was filed by the Standing Counsel for the State which stated that the investigation in the Raebareli case had been concluded.

The affidavit also mentioned that a final report had been submitted before the Court concerned, which is pending disposal.

Regarding the compensation scheme, the state counsel prayed for allowing two weeks' time, to which the court acceded while posting the matter for further hearing on February 27, 2023. 

Case Title: Vanita Awasthi And Others v. Union Of India Thr.Secy.Ministry Of Women And Child Development