Chandigarh: HC takes serious notice of non-registration of FIR for acid
attack-Seeks explanation from SSP, Sangrur-HC also issueS show cause notice to
Principal Secretary, Department of Home Affairs for non-payment of interim
orders for payment of interim compensation to victim of acid attack:
The woes of Malkit Singh, a truck driver of village-Katron , near Dhuri had started on 22.7.2011, when he went to collect his salary pending for few months, from Baldev Singh, owner of the truck. When he was standing outside the door of house of Baldev Singh on 22.7.2011, Baldev Singh poured a bucket full of acid on him from the roof top.
In serious condition, Malkit Singh was admitted for treatment in Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, where under penury conditions, he accepted an amount of Rs.1.50 lakh from Baldev Singh as financial assistance, and signed an agreement deed to the effect that he had named Baldev Singh, in his complaint due to mistake, and that he does not want an FIR to be registered against Baldev Singh. Consequently, the SHO concerned did not register an FIR for the acid attack on Malkit Singh. Malkit Singh has lost vision of both eyes as a result of acid attack.
Malkit Singh filed an application before District Legal Services Authority, Sangrur, claiming compensation of Rs.3 lakh under the Victim Compensation Scheme, which was declined on the ground that he had already compromised the matter with assailant, and got compensation from him.
He challenged the said order by filing a Civil Writ Petition in the High Court. The High Court awarded him an interim compensation of Rs.2 lakh vide order dated 24.3.2017. The State Government however, did not pay the said interim compensation to him till today, when the case came up for resumed hearing today.
The HC Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta thereupon issued a show cause notice to Principal Secretary, Department of Home Affairs, Punjab, as to why contempt petition be not initiated against him for not complying the order for payment of interim compensation to Malkit Singh.
The Bench also took a very serious notice of the conduct of Police in not registering FIR for acid attack, simply because under extreme compulsion, the victim compromised the matter with his assailant. “Would you decline to register an FIR for murder, if the dependents of the deceased sign a compromise with assailant?” Justice Gupta, made a pointed quarry to the State Counsel.
The Bench thereupon issued a notice to SSP Sangrur asking him to explain as to why FIR was not registered against the accused for acid attack on Malkit Singh. The case shall now come up for further hearing on September 15.