SURYA SANKAR BARIK Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is a male acid attack survivor. An initial amount of Rs.3,00,000.00 was paid to the petitioner by respondent no. 6, The State Legal Services Authority, West Bengal in terms of its Victim Compensation Scheme.

(2.) Subsequently, however, the petitioner is required to undergo plastic surgery/cosmetic surgery and several other medical procedures involving huge expenses, for treatment, care and reintegration in society due to the partial disfigurement of the petitioner"s face in view of the acid attack suffered by him.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the Victim Compensation Scheme in such cases has been envisaged in several judgments of the Supreme Court. Learned counsel cites the first judgment in Laxmi Vs. Union of India and others, reported at (2014) 4 SCC 427 and then the second judgment of the same name reported at (2014) 13 SCC 743. The Supreme Court directed off-hand grant of compensation of at least Rs.3,00,000.00 by the State Government/Union Territory concerned as the after-care and the rehabilitation cost.