Amend gender bias in relief to acid attack victims: HC

JUSTICE DAYA CHAUDHARY HAS DIRECTED THE PUNJAB AND HARYANA GOVERNMENTS TO AMEND NOTIFICATIONS FOR COVERING MALE ACID ATTACK VICTIMS TOO

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed Punjab and Haryana to suitably amend their notifications on compensation to acid attack victims, including males.

Taking up the ongoing contempt petition filed through advocate HC Arora against the Punjab chief secretary, Justice Daya Chaudhary directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to suitably amend their notifications for covering male acid attack victims as well.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, Chaudhary also impleaded the Haryana government as a party.

A public interest litigation (PIL) was initially filed by the Poor Patients Relief Society through its secretary HC Arora.

The petitioner moved the court after the acid attack on Mandeep Kaur and her father Shamsher Singh on July 11, 2014.

The incident had occurred when they were on their way to the Moga district courts to attend the hearing of a case.

The Punjab government put on record a notification of June 20, 2017, which incorporates a provision for grant of ₹8,000 per month as financial assistance to “female acid attack victim”.

However, the state government did not give such assistance to the male acid attack victim.

The Haryana government, too, provides financial assistance of ₹8,000 to the acid attack victims falling within the definition of “disability” under section 2 (i) of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Protection of Rights of Full Participation) Act.

The case was adjourned for September 7.