Delhi High Court Orders Implementation Of 'Avlamban Fund Scheme' With ₹10 Crore Corpus To Compensate Acid Attack Victims

The Delhi High Court has ordered implementation of Avlamban Fund Scheme, 2024 for victims of acid attack who are residents of the national capital or against whom the offence has been committed here, irrespective of their address.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan (now elevated to Supreme Court) and Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri noted that the scheme, formulated by Delhi Government, will have a permanent corpus fund of Rs.10 crores for meeting out the rehabilitative and other ancillary expenses of victims of acid attack and that the same shall be operated by the Principal District & Sessions Judge (HQ).

“…. it is directed that the Principal District & Sessions Judge (HQ) shall open a separate account for implementation of the Scheme whereafter the Registrar General of this Court shall transfer the funds lying in the AASRA Fund to the newly opened account under the 'Avlamban Fund Scheme, 2024',” the Court said.

It added: “Additionally, the fine and costs imposed under the orders of this Court or any other Court and directed to be deposited under the Scheme shall also add to the corpus of the fund.”

The Court was dealing with a bail plea filed by an accused in a POCSO case. Although the plea was disposed of by a single judge last month, the matter was placed before the division bench after it was alleged that the rape was accompanied by forcible ingestion of toilet cleaner to the minor victim.

“In a world where courage confronts cruelty, it is imperative to devise a scheme to ensure amelioration to the heart wrenching ordeals of victims who have endured not only physical and psychological injuries but also unimaginable pain, sufferings, and horror,” the Court said.

The bench noted that Section 396 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 outlines the responsibilities of the State and Central Governments to establish Victim Compensation Scheme and also provide funds for it.

“As such, the compensatory needs of the victims have been duly recognised and redressed under the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme, 2018,” it said.

Counsel for Petitioner: Ms. Ritika Singh and Mr. Raj Narayan Singh, Advocates

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Santosh Kumar Tripathi, Standing Counsel (Civil) for GNCTD with Karn Bhardwaj and Mr.Rishabh Srivastava, Advocates; Mr.Laksh Khanna, APP with Ms.Smriti Maheshwari & Ms.Diksha Suri, Advocates for the State; Mr. Sarfaraz Khan, Mr. Mirza Amir Baig and Mr. Abdul Wahid, Advocates for DSLSA with Mr. Rajeev Bansal, Member Secretary and Mr. Abhinav Pandey, Secretary (Litigation), DSLSA; Ms. Sowjhanya Shankaran, Advocate (Amicus Curiae) for R-2/victim; Mr. Kartikeye Dang and Ms. Nimisha Manon, Advocates for R-2

Title: PREETI v. STATE & ANR.

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