Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the state’s “casual” handling of acid attack rehabilitation, the Allahabad High Court has summoned the Principal Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh’s Home and Women and Child Welfare departments. The top bureaucrats have been ordered to appear in person on May 25, 2026, to present a concrete policy framework, after the court observed that the state has failed to establish a comprehensive support system even nine years after a survivor’s life-altering tragedy.
A division bench comprising Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad issued the summons during a hearing for a plea filed by an acid attack survivor seeking state-backed rehabilitation.
The court criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s reliance on one-time financial handouts, emphasizing that a victim’s recovery requires lifetime structural support rather than sporadic, minor payments.
Nine Years of Waiting: The Case Behind the Summons
The petitioner was just 24 years old when she survived an acid attack. Nearly nine years later, the court noted, the state’s efforts to rebuild her life have been shockingly minimal.
Over nearly a decade, she has received a total of only ₹6 lakhs in aggregate payments. Beyond this financial disbursement, the court found no evidence of any meaningful, long-term state-sponsored rehabilitative effort.
“The state obligation extends far beyond the disbursement of meagre compensation amount,” the bench stated in its order dated May 14.
The justices emphasized that true rehabilitation must include:
- Continuous medical and psychological support
- Reconstructive surgical treatment
- Educational and employment opportunities
- Targeted measures to help survivors reintegrate into society with dignity
Court Slams UP Government’s ‘Casual’ Approach
The bench did not mince words regarding the lack of urgency shown by state departments. Upon reviewing the documents submitted by the state, the court found them to be completely devoid of any real, actionable plans.
Instead of a defined policy, the state’s filings merely detailed broad, inconclusive departmental discussions. There were no timelines, no defined financial structures, and no clear rehabilitation mechanisms.
This lack of preparation, the court remarked, showed a severe lack of seriousness toward an issue with devastating lifelong impacts.
“We are surprised to see that the state authorities are taking so lightly and casually the acid attack matters where survivor has to face lifelong hardship,” the bench had previously noted during an April 16 hearing.
Constitutional Obligations and Supreme Court Precedents
The High Court reminded the Uttar Pradesh administration that maintaining law and order and protecting bodily integrity are fundamental constitutional duties. The state’s job, the court noted, does not end with simply prosecuting the attackers.
Under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, the state is obligated to ensure that victims of such heinous crimes can continue to live their lives with basic human dignity.
The bench also pointed to the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Parivartan Kendra v Union of India, which established years ago that compensation in acid attack cases cannot be restricted to immediate physical injuries. It must actively account for lifelong trauma, escalating medical expenses, and the loss of social and economic livelihood.
Despite this long-standing apex court ruling, the Allahabad High Court observed that Uttar Pradesh still lacks any “substantial policy response” to deal with the crisis.
The May 25 Ultimatum
To bypass administrative delays, the High Court has demanded direct, face-to-face accountability from the senior-most leaders of the relevant state departments.
The Principal Secretaries of both the Home and the Women and Child Welfare departments must personally present themselves before the court on May 25, 2026.
They have been instructed to bring comprehensive, detailed plans outlining:
- A Concrete Policy Framework: A clear, statewide system for the compensation, rehabilitation, and long-term care of acid attack survivors.
- Support Mechanisms: Detailed plans specifying how the state will provide medical care, reconstructive surgeries, counseling, education, and job placement assistance.
- Rationalized Compensation: A transparent methodology showing how financial compensation will be calculated to reflect the actual severity of injuries and their lifelong consequences on the survivors’ lives.
