Odisha: HC Asks SCBMCH To Provide Free Surgery To 2009 Acid Attack Victim

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has directed the superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital (MCH) to conduct plastic reconstructive surgery free of cost on a woman, who suffered severe burns on her face and lost eyesight following an acid attack by a spurned lover 15 years ago.

While hearing a bail petition filed by the prime accused in the case, Santosh Kumar Bedant, single judge bench of Justice SK Sahoo said the recent photograph of the victim clearly showed that she needed medical intervention, especially surgical treatment. “She will be examined by a team of doctors formed by the superintendent of SCBMCH and if proper facilities for her treatment are available, so far as plastic reconstructive surgery is concerned, then the same has to be immediately provided to her free of cost.”

“If the said treatment is not available in SCBMCH, the state shall make necessary arrangements for the treatment of the victim in other government/private hospitals either inside the state or outside,” he added, while directing for listing the case in the week commencing from February 26.

The incident took place on May 4, 2009, at Kanakpur village within Tirtol police limits in Jagatsinghpur district when the victim was only 17 years old. Bedant, who committed the offence after his request for marriage was turned down by the victim, was convicted and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment by the assistant sessions judge (women’s court), Jagatsinghpur, on May 9, 2022.

The victim, suffered severe burns and loss of eye sight on account of acid attack, had regained partial vision after a surgery in her left eye in Chennai in September 2017, sources said.