The Government of India take a number of steps to prevent the incidents of acid attack and provide treatment & compensation to the acid attack victims. Criminal laws have been amended to address the following issues related to acid attack victim. Through Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 has provided specific provisions on acid attack as an offence, along with punitive measures to deal with non-compliance on cases no registration of crime and non-treatment to victims of several offences. The Hon’ble Supreme Court issued a series of directions under W.P. (Criminal)129 of 2006; Laxmi minor vs. Union of India to take proactive measures on
- Regulation of sale of acids
- Providing free treatment to the acid attack victim
- Disbursing compensation to the acid attack survivor.
In accordance with the above direction, this Ministry has issued a number of Advisories to the State Governments/ UT Administrations to take proactive measures to expedite investigation and trial of the acid attack cases and bring them under a definite time frame.
This Ministry has requested States/UTs to frame Victim Compensation Scheme as per directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Further, the Central Government has granted Rs. 200 Crore (as a one time measure) under Central Victim Compensation Funds to the States /UTs to support and supplement the existing Victim Compensation Schemes notifies by States/UT Administrations; to reduce disparity in quantum of compensation amount notified by different States/UTs for similar crimes and to encourage States/UTs to effectively implement the victim Compensation Schemes (VSC) notified by them under the provisions of section 357A of CrPC and continue financial support to victims of various crimes especially sexual offences including rape, acid attacks, crime against children, human trafficking etc.
As per directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has framed Compensation Scheme for women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/other Crimes and this was circulated to all States Government / UT Administration for adoption in 2018.
To give immediate temporary relief to the victim, additional financial assistance of Rs. 1.00 lakh (over and above the amount provided under the Victim Compensation Scheme) to the victim of acid attacks is provided under the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued guidelines in this regard on 09.11.2016.
Detailed advisories are attached below:
