Laxmi, who was aged about 15 years suffered an acid assault and
filed this PIL. She was raised in a middle-class household and helped
her parents by taking a part-time job as a salesman at a bookseller.
Two acquaintances visited her on the tragic day of April 22, 2005,
and they doused her in acid. When they heard her screams, a crowd
gathered, but no one attempted to aid.
After that, she was brought to the “Ram Manohar Lohiya Hospital”,
where she received medical care. According to the medical report,
the girl got about 25% acid blisters on her face, chest, eyes as well as
the forearm. She then told the authorities that Naeem Khan (Guddu)
and Rakhi were responsible once she regained consciousness (his
sister-in-law). She said that family friend Naeem Khan had asked her
to marry him, but she had categorically rejected his proposal.
The accused and co-accused were found guilty by the Delhi Sessions
Court of violating Sections 307 IPC (Attempt to Murder) and 120B
(Punishment for Criminal Conspiracy)”.
Following that, the accused appealed the Sessions Court’s ruling to the
Delhi High Court. The High Court affirmed the lower court’s judgement.
Additionally, ordered the blamed to recompense the victim an amount
totalling Rs. 3 lakhs in damages.
Laxmi filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Supreme Court in 2013
to bring to light the miseries of acid attack sufferers. There is a number
of causes for acid attacks, but most customers include not agreeing to
marry, refusal of sexual approaches, and dowry matters. The primary
goal of submitting this PIL was to have an outright prohibition on the
selling of acid, tighter regulations governing acid assaults, and a better
reimbursement structure
SC gave the following guidelines which changed to the laws governing the
criminal justice system:-
- Sections 326A and 326B, which particularly addressed the offence of the acid assault, were added to “Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code”.
- The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been changed to incorporat Section 357B, which ensures that the victim will get reimbursement in addition to the penalties required under “Sections 326A and 376D of the IPC. Section 357A explains the victim compensation programmer”.
- The victim is entitled to compensation of at least three lakh rupees, according to the government’s Victim Compensation Scheme, which also established a consistent method for paying the compensation. It was emphasised that no facility, not even a private hospital, could refuse the victim medical care. When hospitals are short on equipment, the victim should first get primary care before being transferred to the appropriate hospital.
- The restriction on acid sales and purchases.
- Under the Victim Compensation Scheme, a legal service authority was also
- established to aid victims in obtaining justice.
With regards
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