New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that cases in which someone is forced to drink acid should also be treated as acid attacks, even if there are no visible burns on the body.
Earlier, the law mainly recognized acid attack victims based on external injuries. Because of this, people who suffered internal damage from being forced to consume acid were often left out and could not get legal protection or benefits.
The Court found this unfair and said that injuries are not only about what can be seen on the outside.
Internal damage caused by acid can be just as serious and life-threatening, so such victims deserve the same rights, protection, and support as other acid attack survivors.
It also pointed out that the current definition under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is too narrow and excludes many genuine victims.
To fix this, the Court asked the central government to change the law and include these cases formally. Until that happens, the Court said its interpretation should be followed.
This means that even victims from past years (since 2016) can now be recognized under the law and may become eligible for medical help, rehabilitation, and financial support.
The Court also suggested stricter steps, such as tougher punishment for offenders, possibly placing the burden of proof on the accused in some cases, and allowing the seizure of an attacker’s property to compensate victims.