Government must provide artificial limbs to blast victims: Delhi HC

After a landmark order raising the compensation for kin of victims who lost their lives in the 7 September 2011, Delhi blast to Rs 10 lakh, the Delhi High Court has in a second order on compensation directed the government to bear the cost of artificial limbs for those injured in the blast. The High Court has given the government one month’s time. The blast occurred outside the Delhi High Court leaving 15 people dead and 70 people injured, four of whom lost their limbs. The High Court has said it is the “duty of Delhi Government to procure and provide artificial limbs” to the victims. Reiterating its previous order, it directed the government to bear the cost of treatment that victims were undergoing for injuries suffered due to the blast. The Delhi High Court was responding to a PIL (public interest litigation) by advocate Gaurav Bansal, who was also responsible for the earlier HC order on increasing the compensation amount to Rs 10 lakh. [caption id=“attachment_179650” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AFP”] [/caption] Speaking to Firstpost, the petitioner Gaurav Bansal said, “A good quality prosthetic limb costs Rs 2.8 lakh. It is the responsibility of government to provide the best quality prosthetic limbs to the victims.” The petition drew attention to the continuing struggle of Vipin Kumar, a 64-year-old heart patient whose left leg was amputated a few days after he was admitted to the AIIM trauma Centre following the blast. According to the petition, when Vipin Kumar approached AIIMS for artificial limbs, the hospital asked him to first pay the bill. This despite the previous Delhi High Court order directing the government to bear the cost of treatment of the victims. Vipin Kumar’s many letters to both the central and state government remained unanswered. “I have requested the court that I be given a status report of the progress made by the government on its promises. In two months, when I get the report it will be clear where government stands.”