Orissa: In a recent development in the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, Justice S.K. Sahoo presided over a significant case concerning the grant of bail and the crucial issue of medical treatment for an acid attack victim. The case, CRLA No.503 of 2022, involving Bapi alias Santosh Kumar Bedant as the appellant/petitioner and the State of Odisha as the respondent/opposing party, brought attention to the dire need for proper medical intervention for victims of such heinous crimes.
The court, on the 8th of February 2024, took up the matter through a hybrid arrangement, utilizing both video conferencing and physical modes of operation. The application under section 389 of the Cr.P.C. for the grant of bail was under consideration. However, the proceedings took a significant turn when the court examined a photograph of the victim, revealing the gruesome extent of her injuries due to the acid attack. Her face was completely disfigured, necessitating urgent medical attention, particularly plastic reconstructive surgery.
Justice S.K. Sahoo, mindful of the victim’s plight, referred to the directions set by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Laxmi vs. Union of India (2016), emphasizing the obligation of the state to ensure proper treatment, aftercare, and rehabilitation for victims of acid attacks. These directions underscored the imperative for both government and private hospitals to provide free medical treatment, including specialized procedures like reconstructive surgeries.
In light of these directives, the court instructed the learned counsel for the State to ascertain the provisions made by the Government of Odisha for the medical treatment of acid attack victims, specifically addressing the need for plastic surgery. Furthermore, the victim was ordered to be presented before the Superintendent of S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, for examination by a team of doctors. If the necessary facilities for treatment were available, the victim was to receive immediate and free medical care. However, in the event of unavailability, arrangements were to be made either within or outside the state.
The Court held,
“Having regard for the aforesaid directions issued by the Hon’ble Highest Court, let the learned counsel for the State obtain instruction as to what sort of provisions have been made by the Govt. of Odisha to provide medical treatment, particularly, plastic surgery to the acid attack victims. “
The court scheduled the matter for further review in the upcoming week and mandated the Superintendent of Police, Jagatsinghpur, to ensure the victim’s presence for medical evaluation. Additionally, a comprehensive report on the medical treatment, including inputs from the hospital, was requested for the next hearing.
This judicial intervention not only highlights the urgency of addressing the medical needs of acid attack survivors but also underscores the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring justice and support for victims of such horrific crimes.