A male acid attack survivor's challenge to Jharkhand's compensation policy has prompted the High Court to hold that such relief cannot be determined by gender, while enhancing his compensation from ₹3 lakh to ₹15 lakh.

Hearing the survivor's appeal, a division bench of Justices Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Pradeep Kumar Srivastava observed that compensation for acid attack victims cannot be gender-specific and should not depend on whether the survivor is male or female.

The petitioner had questioned provisions of the state's compensation framework under which relief was available to female acid attack victims. He argued that the absence of a corresponding provision for victims of other genders rendered them ineligible for compensation under the policy.

Agreeing with the contention, the court said compensation itself ought not to be decided on a gender basis.

The bench subsequently enhanced the compensation awarded to the survivor from ₹3 lakh to ₹15 lakh. It also directed the state government to ensure proper treatment for the victim and bear the medical expenses.

The survivor had additionally sought the framing of rules governing the sale and procurement of acid, contending that the substance continues to be easily available in the market despite the risks associated with its misuse.

With PTI inputs