Notice to state on ‘biased’ relief plan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 11

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued a notice to the state government on a “discriminatory” notification, according to which a monthly financial assistance of Rs 8,000 each is to be given to woman acid attack victims.

The Bench, headed by Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, fixed April 26 as the next date of hearing on the petition filed by Malkit Singh of Dhuri, who lost his vision following an acid attack on him allegedly by a truck owner with whom he was employed as a driver.

His counsel HC Arora claimed the victim’s skull and face had been badly disfigured. He had also lost his capacity to eke out a living following the attack. He was dependent on his family since 2013.

Arora submitted that the state’s original scheme — which was evolved in 2011 for providing a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the acid attack victims — did not discriminate between men and women. However, the supplementary scheme notified in 2017 provided monthly financial assistance of Rs 8,000 only to women acid attack victims. It was violative of the mandate of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution as it discriminated on the basis of sex.

Acid attack

• The victim’s counsel, HC Arora, submitted that the state’s original scheme — which was evolved in 2011 for providing a relief of Rs 3 lakh to acid attack victims — did not discriminate between men and women
• However, the supplementary scheme notified in 2017 provided monthly financial assistance of Rs 8,000 only to women acid attack victims. It was violative of the mandate of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution as it discriminated on the basis of sex