The Supreme Court on Friday directed Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to ensure that full treatment is provided to an acid attack survivor until she is fit to be discharged, after it was told that the hospital had asked the victim to get admitted to Safdarjung Hospital for further treatment.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant took up the matter on an urgent mention by Shaheen Malik, an acid attack survivor whose organisation, Brave Souls Foundation, works for the rehabilitation and welfare of acid attack victims. The application by Malik pointed out that soon after the incident, the victim was taken to the Delhi government-run GTB Hospital, from where she sought discharge on October 8 to SGRH. She arrived at the hospital the same day at around 4 pm but was admitted to the emergency department after a long wait of nearly three hours.
Malik said the hospital told her on Friday to leave as it does not have a dedicated burn ward While the victim is still at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH). On Friday, the victim’s family was asked to prepare for discharge and approach another hospital capable of providing the requisite treatment. Malik also contacted Apollo Hospital but received a similar response. The Ganga Ram hospital wants to refer her to a government hospital. Why should the victim go to a government hospital when the law entitles her free treatment at any hospital. The bench directed, “We direct the management of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to keep the acid attack victim as an indoor patient and provide her all facilities, including medicines, plastic surgery and any other treatment, irrespective of the cost of such treatment. The court directed the hospital to forward the bill to the court and further held, “The victim shall not be discharged till she is in a position to be discharged and would require only outdoor treatment. Following this, Malik filed an application and appealed to the CJI for an urgent hearing. The court directed the Registry to list the application along with a pending matter filed by Malik relating to acid attack victims.
Malik pointed out that the victim suffered the acid attack in Delhi’s Bhajanpura area on October 6 and, despite being entitled under the law to free medical treatment, was being denied the same by leading private hospitals in Delhi.
The bench, also comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said, “The application raises alarming facts. Malik said, “Both the eyes of the victim are damaged.
