The Allahabad High Court has strongly criticized the Meerut district magistrate for failing to take necessary steps to compensate an acid attack victim. 

The court directed the district magistrate (DM) to submit essential documents, including the victim’s medical report and the FIR, to the Women Safety Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.

Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government has been instructed to issue a circular to all district magistrates across the state to prevent such delays in the future. 

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Vipin Chandra Dixit issued the order in response to a petition filed by Rajneeta from Meerut. She sought an additional compensation of ₹1 lakh, which is payable to acid attack survivors under the Prime Minister National Relief Fund. 

The court noted that a letter dated September 3, 2024, from the Under Secretary of the Women Safety Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, had directed the Meerut DM to submit specific responses along with legible copies of the victim’s medical report and FIR.  

Calling the situation “extremely alarming,” the court ordered the DM to comply with the ministry’s directive within a week. 

The bench observed that the acid attack occurred in 2013 and that the petitioner had received some compensation. However, the medical expenses for her surgeries and treatment far exceeded the amount granted. 

“In light of this, it is imperative that the authorities ensure the additional compensation from the Union of India is provided to the petitioner at the earliest,” the court stated.  

Rajneeta suffered severe burns to her eyes, chest, neck, and face in December 2013 during a dispute related to road construction. She claimed she had been struggling since then to secure the ₹1 lakh compensation designated for acid attack survivors under the PM National Relief Fund.