Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Friday directed the state govt to not differentiate acid attack victims and survivors based on their gender. While directing the govt to compensate a male acid attack survivor, the HC also observed that the govt’s should not be biased and should include all irrespective of their gender.A division bench of Justices Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Pradeep Kumar Srivastava issued the directives while hearing an appeal filed by the male survivor of an acid attack, who sought enhancement in compensation from the govt.The survivor challenged the provisions of the policy wherein compensation is only provided to female victims and survivors of acid attack. In absence of a specific provision to provide compensation to victims and survivors of acid attack, those from other gender were rendered ineligible for compensation.“The compensation policy of the govt for victims of acid attacks cannot be gender specific. As a matter of fact, compensation itself ought not to be decided based on gender,” the bench observed.The survivor was already provided a compensation of Rs 3 lakh. On Friday, the HC enhanced the amount to Rs 15 lakh. The HC also ordered the state govt to ensure proper treatment is meted out to the survivor and the govt will bear the expenses of his treatment. In his petition, the survivor also pleaded that rules be framed by the govt for the sale and procurement of acid. “In absence of specific provisions, acid can be purchased in the market easily,” the survivor claimed in his petition.
