Acid Attacks and the Legal Landscape in India: A Call for Change

Acid attacks are some of the cruelest forms of crime that causes permanent harm, both physically and emotionally to the victims. They mostly target women and children and leave them disfigured and disabled for the rest of their vulnerable life. The kind of outrageous acts towards acid victims not only lead to severe physical injury; human dignity is stripped off completely. The life changes the hapless victim experiences are hard to explain. In the recent times in fact, Indian teenage girls have been victims of this crime, which pushed the government and the judiciary to amend regulations that deal with punitive measures against acid attackers and judicializing relief for the survivors.

What is an Acid Attack?
An acid attack takes place when acid is thrown on or poured over a person with deliberate intent to harm, disfigure, or disable. The most commonly used acids in such attacks are sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid. Such acids have high corrosive properties and can cause severe burns, blindness, and deep and lasting physical and psychological trauma.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) defines anyone who hurls acid at someone, “with the intent or knowledge that such an act will cause physical, psychological, social, or economic harm, on themselves or on others.”
Historical Context and Rise of Acid Throwing in India
Although the acid throws are happening in this country for quite a long time, the attention of the Indian citizens was drawn towards the problem in particular, due to the appearance of a series of high-profile cases, since about 2002. Prior to that, just a few such incidents were recorded; and the figures never found from any authentic sources. In 2000, over 174 instances of. acid-throwing were recorded in India alone, taking it close to an almost paralytic scare because of the huge variety of such crimes.
Countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan have had a long time series of aggressive behaviors. One significant attribute of this includes socio-economic and gender-based violence.
Legal Reforms: Legislative Action to Combat Acid Violence
Earlier only the grievous hurt charges were applicable when acid was thrown or used upon somebody; no acid attacks were included. India’s penal provision had no set of provisions concerning acid attack until 2013, and hence persecutions were sought by applying general sections for grievous hurt. However, taking into account the severity of acid violence, the government passed the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013 by which in the Indian Penal Code Sections 326A and 326B were added.
Section 326A: Whoever causes great hurt or severely burns or maims another by using acid shall be punished with imprisonment which will not be less than ten years (it can go up to life as well), fine, and that fine should be spent on the victim’s medical treatment and rehabilitation.
They impose a minimum of now less than five years but up to seven years of imprisonment and a fine for this offense. The cases related to this offense are non-compoundable. There is no provision for bail for such offenses, keeping in the view its severity.
These provisions were formed on the recommendation of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee after the Delhi gang rape incident of 2012 and the 226th Law Commission Report, which also proposed tougher legislation and regulations over acid attacks.
BETTER CONTROL ON SALE OF ACID
Government of India has enforced a very effective regulation plan against potential misuse of acid by monitoring its sale. In 2013, the Supreme Court of India formed an advisory to all states and Union Territories for sale of acid. It restricted the over-the-counter sale of acid under the Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules and obliged a business to present valid identification and to be above the age of 18 for purchasing sale.
Quite informative as per the requirement is record maintenance of each sales transaction mentioning the name and addresses of the buyer and the volume of acid sold. They need to appoint a responsible person for the storage and usage of acid, including but not limited to schools, colleges, or hospitals.
Addresses for Victim Compensation and Rehabilitation
Victims of acid attacks are frequently bogged down by financial and psychological distress. To address this, the Government of India provides compensations and free medical aid to victims. Going as far as the law is concerned, the victims of acid attacks are compensated under Section 357A of the CrPC. At least Rs. 3,00,000 worth of compensation is given by the court to the victim. Compensation can be increased according to the level of disfigurement or injury when it exceeds 50% and more.
It also mentioned all public and private hospitals that are obliged to provide free medical treatment to the victims. People who have been affected are likely to visit such hospitals. They are supposed to provide treatment without the necessity of any financial barrier.
Obstacles and the Way Forward
Even with legal reform, acid attacks have continued to be significant problems in the nation. It remains difficult with effective implementation having been made impossible by various shortcomings. Among some of the worst problems include:
Easily Accessible in the Acid Market: Despite the strictest laws, a lot of acid in large quantities is easily available at local markets. There is an immediate need for more stringent enforcement than before.
Most of the victims cited delayed compensation as one of the main hurdles to recovery. A delay in just compensation further handicaps the recovery process faced by the victim.
Undeveloped Medical Infrastructure: Most urban areas are endowed with the facilities to cater to medical needs while such facilities are unavailable or underdeveloped in most rural areas where acid attack survivors will be treated effectively.
Lack of Facilities for Rehabilitation: Although compensation and medical care are crucial, most victims will not avail themselves of long-term rehabilitation like psychological counseling, vocational training, and reincorporation into society.
However, increasing Compensation: Reflect on the application of higher minimum compensation in order to boost the prices of these medicines which are becoming dearer by the day.
What can be done?
Experts and activists proffer some solutions:
Curb the sale of acid: By enforcing stricter acid sales restrictions, this would require less hazardous substance in the society.
Inexpensive justice: Fast track the hearing process.
More compensation: The least the government can do is to redefine, review, and raise the minimum compensation amount, making it adequate in confronting the growing medical expenses.
Awareness Campaigns: That will motivate the general public for punishing acid attack crimes and exposing it to deterrence.
Projections and Provision of Something: All much-awaited initiatives in counseling centers, vocational training centers, and program initiatives fall under this dimension.
Conclusion
Thus, India is far from stopping acid attacks despite the significant progress made in its legal and administrative framework. A significant work will deter future acid attack-related cases and ensure that survivors of acid attack have access to justice, proper compensation for their injuries, and money for rehabilitation-a journey India is still on in terms of law against acid violence. It is only through tenacious efforts in conjunction with public understanding that it can be eradicated through a sold-out strategy.
Legislation, survivor support, and kappping of efficiency gaps are the anchor on which this great task shall rest-the building of a society where every person is safe from injurious acids now that acid violence is on everyone’s lips.