An acid attack survivor made a poignant plea for justice on Thursday, sixteen years after the attack, while also urging support for other women, including those who had been forced to drink acid. Her appeal drew strong reactions from the Supreme Court, which criticized the slow pace of justice in such cases.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant instructed the Delhi court handling her case to fast-track the trial by holding daily hearings. The Chief Justice called the delay “a shame… a mockery of the system” and said that perpetrators of acid attacks should not receive any leniency from law enforcement.
“The offence occurred in 2009, and the trial remains incomplete. If the national capital cannot address these challenges, then who will? It is a disgrace to the system,” the court said.
The survivor highlighted that while the law covers her case, many women forced to drink acid are not protected under current legislation. “Acid was thrown on me. I am covered under the law, but many others are forced to drink acid… and they are not covered,” she said. She also described the long-term consequences faced by survivors, including severe medical complications and disabilities that make basic activities like walking or eating extremely difficult.
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Union Government, urging it to consider extending legal protection to women in such cases through an ordinance, particularly regarding medical care and compensation. The court also directed all lower courts to submit data on ongoing acid attack trials in their jurisdictions to monitor progress.
