New Delhi: A new scheme aimed at rehabilitation of survivors who suffered acid attacks in the city has been made functional by Delhi High Court.
In a recent order, the court approved Avlamban Fund Scheme 2024, formulated by Delhi govt with a permanent corpus fund of Rs 10 crore. It is meant to rehabilitate the survivors and meet their other related expenses, including medical treatment, beyond the compensation awarded under Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme 2018.
While the funding comes from govt, the new scheme will be operated by a district judge.
“Notably, vitriolage (acid burn) is one of the most vicious forms of violence faced by the country as of now. In a world where courage confronts cruelty, it is imperative to devise a scheme to ensure amelioration to the heart-wrenching ordeals of victims who have endured not only physical and psychological injuries but also unimaginable pain, sufferings and horror,” a bench of then Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed last month.
It was dealing with the horrific case of a minor rape survivor who was forcibly made to drink toilet cleaner containing acid by the accused and underwent surgeries to survive. The court had sought a dedicated scheme for such survivors from Delhi govt after a single judge, while hearing the bail application of the accused, found that the rape was also allegedly accompanied by the forcible ingestion of toilet cleaner by the survivor, resulting in the child undergoing multiple surgeries, including tracheostomy, and advice of a special diet.
Since the survivor’s family was unable to meet the recurring expenses, the judge sent the matter to the bigger bench, which could enlarge its scope and lay down directions.
HC pointed out that while the compensatory needs have been duly recognised and redressed under the 2018 compensation scheme, “acid attack by itself was recognised as an offence under Section 124 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. Section 396 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 outlines the responsibilities of state and central governments to establish a victim compensation scheme and also provide funds for it.”
Delhi govt came up with a draft scheme, which was circulated among all stakeholders — the registrar general of HC, advocates representing the child survivor and the prosecution, and lawyer Sowjhanya Shankaran, who was appointed amicus curiae by the court earlier.
Approving the draft, HC ordered the principal district & sessions judge (HQ) to open a separate account for its implementation. It further directed that the money lying in AASRA Fund established earlier by HC would be transferred to the new account.
It added that fines and costs imposed under the orders of HC or any other court could also be deposited under the scheme to increase the corpus.
