RANJANA DEVI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a story of an unfortunate girl who at the age of 21 years was married to one Ravi Kumar on 21.02.2014. She was mal-treated and beaten by her husband for dowry. Since she belongs to a poor family, therefore, could not meet the demand of dowry. She was brutally beaten. When she became unconscious, her husband slit her throat, poured acid on her face and abandoned her at a vacant plot, 5-6 kilometers away, from Ludhiana. She was found by a nearby resident on 02.03.2017 who gave her first aid and called her father. She was admitted to Civil Hospital on 03.03.2017 and was diagnosed with chemical burns on her neck, chest and subsequently had a massive complex surgery of the neck. She got registered FIR No. 52 dated 03.03.2017 under Sections 307, 326-A and 498A Penal Code at Police Station Meherban, District Ludhiana.

(2.) Now, the petitioner has prayed for a direction to modify the eligibility criteria for grant of compensation under the Punjab Victim or their Dependents Compensation Scheme, 2011 (as amended from time to time) qua the acid attack survivors as it is allegedly in violation of a decision rendered by the Supreme Court in the case of Laxmi Vs. Union of India and others, Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 129 of 2006, dated 18.07.2013 and a decision of this Court rendered in the case of Poor Patients Relief Society and others Vs. State of Punjab and others, CWP No. 22895 of 2012, dated 02.05.2014 and has prayed for the grant of free medical treatment, reimbursement and for interim compensation/compensation and rehabilitation, besides the additional compensation of Rs. 1,00,000.00 from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund, which is meant for the acid attack survivors.

(3.) Before approaching this Court, the petitioner made a representation (Annexure P-10) in this regard to the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Principal Secretary, Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Punjab and the Punjab State Legal Service Authority through its Members Secretary and had also made a representation to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana and joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi for grant of compensation of Rs. 1,00,000.00 under the Prime Minster National Relief Fund. Since there was no reply, therefore, the present petition is filed.