The Supreme Court today directed Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi to provide all necessary treatment, regardless of cost, to an acid attack survivor admitted there after sustaining damage to both her eyes.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana passed the order when the matter was mentioned around 4 PM by a woman appearing in-person on behalf of the survivor.

The woman informed the Court that the acid attack survivor was currently in Ganga Ram Hospital but was being threatened with discharge. She alleged that the hospital was claiming that it was not "specialized" in the required treatment.

The woman further claimed that Apollo Hospital was also consulted, but it declined to take in the survivor. It was further submitted that the survivor did not wish to go to a government hospital. The woman highlighted that vide its orders, the Supreme Court has given acid attack survivors the right to avail treatment in any private hospital of their choice.

"Ganga Ram mei hai, toh wahin rakhte hain (if she is in Ganga Ram, then let her be there only)", the CJI responded. The woman in-person agreed, while submitting that if at all the survivor is to be transferred out of Ganga Ram hospital, she should be allowed treatment in Apollo Hospital.

Ultimately, the Court directed the management of Sir Ganga Ram hospital to take in the survivor as an indoor patient and provide all facilities, including medicines and plastic surgery, as and when required, irrespective of the cost to be incurred on the treatment. As against allegation of the hospital forcing the survivor to leave the hospital, the Court added that the hospital shall not discharge her until doctors certify that she is fit for discharge and will require only outdoor treatment.

The order also mentioned that the hospital can forward the treatment bills to the Supreme Court for issuance of directions regarding reimbursement of the expenditure.

The Registry was directed to register the representation made by the woman in-person as an application in the case pending before the Court qua acid attack survivors.