Rights of Victims of Acid Attack in India: L...

Rights of Victims of Acid Attack in India: Legal Issues and Challenges

Author Name : Aviral Narwal

ABSTRACT One of the biggest problems and the worst crime in India is acid attacks. Gender-based violence is increasing day by day and most of the victims are women who faced heinous violence and one of them is acid attacks. The main reasons given are refusal of marriage proposals, men's sexual desires being turned down, dowry demands, family property problems, and so on. People commit these types of crimes because they hate the people they hurt. Not only are their faces and bodies disfigured, but they also have to fight for their lives while being in unbearable pain and suffering. They have to keep fighting to get better. It cost lakhs of rupees for each surgery to treat these burns, and most of the victims were poor and couldn't pay that much. India does not have specific laws to protect people who have been “victims of acid attacks”, and cases were reported under the IPC. As a result of the “Criminal Law Amendment 2013”, new parts were added to the IPC to protect such victims. The SC decision in “Laxmi's case” brings about changes in Indian criminal justice system. But the changes to these laws are not adequate to prohibit acid attacks on women because they does not include harsh fines.