Why Acid Attack Survivors Still Struggle for Justice in India

When a Delhi court acquitted the three main accused in a 2009 acid attack case on December 24, 2025, it brought a painful closure to a 16-year legal battle fought by survivor and activist Shaheen Malik. Beyond one verdict, the case has reopened uncomfortable questions about India’s justice delivery system for acid attack survivors — from investigation delays and low conviction rates to weak enforcement of existing laws.

What happened in the Shaheen Malik case

Shaheen Malik was 26 when she was attacked with acid outside her workplace in Panipat. The assault left her blind in one eye and forced her to undergo 25 reconstructive surgeries. Despite the physical and psychological trauma, she pursued justice for over a decade and a half.

The acquittal of the accused, she says, reflects not a lack of law but a failure of institutions. She has announced plans to appeal before the “Delhi High Court”, but fears the verdict will discourage other survivors from approaching courts — a concern reinforced by national conviction data.

How widespread are acid attacks in India

An acid attack involves the deliberate use of corrosive substances — most commonly sulphuric, hydrochloric or nitric acid — to maim or kill. Victims suffer severe burns, disfigurement, blindness and long-term disabilities, often accompanied by lifelong psychological and economic harm.

According to the “National Crime Records Bureau”, India recorded 207 acid attacks in 2023, along with 65 attempts. While this marks a rise from previous years, experts agree the crime is severely underreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation and family pressure. Independent estimates suggest the real number may be close to 1,000 attacks annually.

Women and young girls form the overwhelming majority of victims, making acid attacks a brutal form of gender-based violence. Children are sometimes injured when they happen to be near the intended target.

Why these attacks happen

A 2024 analysis of cases by Acid Survivors Trust International found that in three-fourths of attacks on women, motives were linked to personal relationships — revenge for rejecting romantic or sexual advances, suspicions of infidelity, dowry disputes or domestic abuse. Property disputes, professional rivalry and political enmity were more common motives when men were targeted.

Researchers also note a geographical pattern: states with higher concentrations of industries that use acid — such as textiles, leather and rubber — often see greater incidence because the substances are easier to procure.

The law on paper: what India has done

India’s legal framework was significantly strengthened after the Supreme Court’s 2013 judgment in “Laxmi vs Union of India”. Specific offences for acid attacks were introduced into criminal law, recognising the crime’s unique brutality.

Under the “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita”, acid attacks are now punishable with a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, extendable to life, along with fines meant to cover medical expenses. Attempted attacks attract five to seven years’ imprisonment. Hospitals are legally bound to provide free treatment and first aid, with penalties for refusal.

The Supreme Court also ordered strict regulation of acid sales — mandatory identity proof for buyers and record-keeping by sellers. In practice, enforcement remains weak across most states.

Why conviction rates remain abysmally low

The data paints a stark picture. Of 703 acid attack cases pending in courts in 2023, there were only 16 convictions and 27 acquittals that year. Hundreds of cases remain stuck in trial, some for over a decade.

Survivors cite shoddy police investigations, ignored evidence, pressure to settle out of court, and judicial insensitivity. Compensation, though mandated, often arrives years late, undermining access to timely treatment and rehabilitation.

Lessons from Bangladesh: what works

India’s neighbour “Bangladesh” offers a stark contrast. After passing stringent acid control and punishment laws in 2002 and launching nationwide awareness campaigns, Bangladesh saw reported acid attacks fall steadily — from nearly 500 cases in 2002 to just 13 in 2024, according to the Acid Survivors Foundation of Bangladesh.

The key was strict enforcement: illegal acid sellers face swift closure, and attacks are prosecuted through fast-track mechanisms. Courts, police and administrators work in tandem rather than isolation.

What survivors say India needs now

Survivors and activists argue that India already has the laws it needs — what is missing is implementation. Key demands include:

• A near-total ban on open acid sales, with real accountability for officials tasked with enforcement
• Sensitisation of police, prosecutors and judges
• Fast-track courts and penalties for prolonged judicial delays
• Timely compensation, released within months, not years
• Implementation of the Justice J.S. Verma Committee’s recommendation for a national rehabilitation fund covering lifelong medical and social needs

Beyond punishment: restoring dignity

Acid attacks do not end with survival. They permanently alter lives, bodies and social identities. Justice, for survivors, is not only about punishment but about dignity — timely treatment, fair trials, economic rehabilitation and public recognition of the harm done.

The acquittal in Shaheen Malik’s case has exposed how far India still has to go. Until laws move from statute books to lived reality, acid attack survivors will continue to fight not just their attackers, but the system meant to protect them.