Apex court pushes for speedy hearings in acid attack cases

The Supreme Court said on Thursday that perpetrators of acid attack cases deserve no sympathy as it sought the response of the Centre on extending benefits under the disability law to victims of such crimes and sought details of pending trials from all high courts to fast-track proceedings.

- Abraham Thomas

Dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an acid attack victim Shaheen Malik, who is awaiting justice against her perpetrators for the past 16 years, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “It is a shame on society. If the national capital cannot respond to this challenge, who will take care of them?”

Malik urged the court to cure a legislative gap by recognising victims of “forceful acid ingestion” in the category of “acid attack victims” in the category of “locomotive disability” under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 (RPwD). She pointed out that these victims suffer lifelong trauma after they are made to drink acid by their perpetrators, which leaves lasting internal injuries that significantly impair their ability to perform basic life functions like eating, swallowing, and speaking. As a person working for their interests, Malik urged the court to consider providing compensatory and rehabilitative measures to them as available to other acid attack victims under the RPwD Act.

“The system must respond to this issue. There should be no sympathy for such persons. These cases should be tried by special courts,” the bench said as it sought the assistance of solicitor general Tushar Mehta in the matter. As Mehta was present in court, he responded positively to the request.