Taking serious cognisnace while hearing on a case of acid attack, the High Court of Uttarakhand has directed the State Government to form a separate criminal surgery compensation board within four weeks for acid attack cases.
Further, the Court has ordered complete prohibition on the open sale of acid. The Government has also been directed to provide immediate compensation of Rs one lakh each to acid attack victims. Private hospitals have also been directed to facilitate medical assistance for those targeted in acid attacks.
The High Court has also directed all the district chiefs of police to ensure that investigation is completed within one week in such cases.
According to the case details, Roorkee resident Kunwar Singh had lodged a first information report on December 18, 2009. He had stated that the accused had thrown acid on his daughter. In the lower court, on August 15, 2010, in the absence of evidence the accused Azam was let off.
The State went on to challenge the order of the lower court by moving high court. Hearing on the case, the court found the accused guilty under the section 307 of Indian Penal Code and directed that he be presented before the high court. The matter was taken up by the division bench of justices Rajeev Sharma and Sharad Kumar Sharma. The next date of hearing in the case has been set for June 22.