The Supreme Court of India has issued a directive to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, instructing the medical facility to provide full and continuous treatment to an acid attack survivor. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant intervened after learning that the private hospital had requested the patient be transferred to a government facility for further care.
The legal intervention followed an urgent mention by Shaheen Malik, an activist and head of the Brave Souls Foundation, who highlighted the victim’s struggle to access mandatory medical services. The victim, who sustained injuries during an attack in Delhi’s Bhajanpura area on October 6, had sought care at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on October 8 after initially receiving treatment at the government-run GTB Hospital. Despite her condition, she was informed by the private hospital on October 9 that she should seek admission elsewhere as they lacked a dedicated burn ward.
Addressing the court, the bench emphasized that under Section 397 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, all hospitals—whether private or public—are legally obligated to provide immediate, free-of-cost medical treatment to acid attack survivors. The court remarked that the application filed by Malik raised "alarming facts" regarding the denial of such services.
The Supreme Court’s order mandates that Sir Ganga Ram Hospital must retain the survivor as an indoor patient and facilitate all necessary procedures, including plastic surgery and the provision of medicines, without concern for the associated expenses. The hospital has been instructed to forward all medical bills to the court and is prohibited from discharging the patient until she is medically fit to transition to outdoor treatment. The bench, which included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, ensured that the victim will receive uninterrupted care as she recovers from her injuries.
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