The Supreme Court strongly directed the states and Union Territories to release funds for paying compensation to acid attack victims whose applications had already been approved, making it clear that it was serious about ensuring victims receive timely relief.

The court expressed concern that its orders granting compensation to victims were often rendered ineffective because government authorities failed to release the required funds. The direction was issued by a Division Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan while hearing a public interest litigation(PIL) on the issue.

Background:

The PIL sought strict implementation of the Supreme Court guidelines in Laxmi v. Union of India. These guidelines mandate that acid attack victims should be paid a minimum sum of ₹ 3,00,000 as compensation under Victim Compensation Schemes and the payment should be facilitated by the District Legal Services Authorities. They also require that victims get comprehensive medical care- including free treatment in public and private hospitals- and that the States regulate the sale of acid and corrosive substances to prevent such attacks.

On 3rd December 2025, the Supreme Court directed NALSA to work with local legal service authorities to ensure timely payments of compensation. On the same day, NALSA told the court that approximately Rs. 484 crore had been disbursed to acid attack victims between April 2024 and March 2025, which to the present proceedings.

In this case, the petitioner’s lawyer told the court that victims were being asked to furnish court orders or FIRs before their applications were processed. The lawyer for the respondents (NALSA) assured the court that they would examine this issue.

Additionally, the respondents’ counsel also said that even when local legal services authorities approved compensation, the concerned governments were not releasing the funds,which made payment difficult. They added that a lump-sum amount is given to state legal authorities at the start of the financial year, but it gets used up quickly, creating further problems.

Order:

The court said that approving applications without available funds would serve no purpose. It therefore ordered all States and Union Territories to release the required funds to local legal services authorities so they can pay victims, and to file affidavits confirming this by 10 March 2026.

The Court also directed NALSA to instruct the Member Secretaries of the State Legal Services Authorities, as well as district and taluka authorities, to quickly process applications filed by victims. While issuing similar directions for Union Territories, the Court noted that such orders would work only if the States cooperated, and expressed hope that real relief measures would follow.

Case Title: Acid Survivors Saahas Foundation (NGO) v. Union of India Case No.: W.P.(C) No. 1252 of 2023