Rs 20 Worth of Acid Can Destroy an Entire Life: Survivor's Fight Spurs Supreme Court Action
At the age of 26, Shaheen Malik was an ambitious MBA aspirant when her life took a horrific turn. Jealous colleagues threw acid on her outside her workplace in Panipat, leaving her blind in one eye and condemning her to a lifetime of surgeries. Sixteen years later, her attackers remain free, while Malik continues to navigate a labyrinth of pain—explaining her ordeal to hospitals, courts, and a system that moves at its own glacial pace.
A PIL That Exposed Systemic Blind Spots
Now 42, Malik walked into the Supreme Court in December with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at highlighting a critical gap in Indian law. Her petition focused on a small but acutely vulnerable group: acid attack survivors who are forced to ingest acid, often excluded from existing support frameworks. The hearing took an unexpected turn when the Chief Justice of India sought details of her own 16-year-old trial, labeling the delay a national shame. This week, the Supreme Court advocated for tougher deterrents, including attaching the assets of the accused to compensate victims.
Interview with Shaheen Malik: Justice, Safeguards, and Survival
In a candid conversation, Malik spoke about the long waits for justice, patchy safeguards, and why survival in such cases demands more stamina than most people possess. Through her Brave Souls Foundation, established in 2021, she has witnessed firsthand how attackers often face minimal consequences.
On Proposed Measures and Implementation:
When asked if the Supreme Court's proposed measures could change this, Malik responded, What the Chief Justice said felt absolutely necessary. There should be punishment so people are afraid of committing such crimes. She emphasized that currently, the accused roam freely, easily obtaining bail with no real repercussions. It has to be made difficult and painful. But saying it is one thing. Real achievement will be when this actually starts getting implemented. That is when conditions will truly start improving.
On Justice Catching Up or Waking the System:
Reflecting on the court's expansion of her case's scope, Malik expressed hope. The court could have limited itself to giving me relief only on the disability issue. Instead, it expanded the scope and raised larger questions around trials and deterrence. She stressed that consistent judicial action is key, calling for clear directions on speedy trials, timelines, and rehabilitation policies. That's when change will actually happen.
Systemic Failures in Medical Treatment
Despite laws mandating free treatment for acid attack victims by both government and private hospitals, with refusal being a punishable offence, implementation remains dismal. Malik pointed out, There's absolutely no clarity. No private hospital gives free treatment to acid attack survivors, and frankly, they don't want to. She described a lack of nodal officers and coordination mechanisms, leading to outright refusals and prolonged legal battles. Now imagine survivors without NGOs or lawyers. Who will actually get free treatment? Almost no one.
Regarding the extent of free treatment, Malik noted that while courts have ruled it should cover full free medical treatment, reality is starkly different. Government hospitals often focus only on life-saving surgeries, with long queues, hygiene issues, and waiting periods extending to six months for a single procedure. If someone needs 40 surgeries, then 20 years of their life will pass. I myself have had 25. My left side still needs lifelong treatment but I'm tired. I don't want any more surgeries.
Focus on Victims of Forceful Acid Ingestion
Malik's PIL specifically addresses survivors forced to ingest acid, a group she realized was completely excluded after establishing her foundation. When I began assisting these survivors with compensation and medical treatment, it became clear that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act entirely leaves out survivors who are forced to ingest acid. Their disability often goes unrecognized, and pleas for enhanced compensation are dodged. If criminal law recognises this violence, beneficial laws must also recognise the resulting disability.
She described the devastation of forceful acid ingestion: This form of violence is rare but extremely brutal, often used as a method of torture, coercion or abuse, especially within domestic violence. It causes severe burns to internal organs, leading to extreme pain, difficulty swallowing, and lifelong complications requiring repeated surgeries.
Rising Cases and Easy Access to Acid
Discussing National Crime Records Bureau data showing rising acid attack cases, Malik attributed this to increased reporting as more people speak up, though many attacks still go unreported. Most cases involve jilted lovers, domestic violence, or personal enmity.
On access to acid, she highlighted a critical failure in regulation. In Laxmi Aggarwal vs Union of India, the SC said acid sale must be regulated. But implementation on ground is zero. Acid is easily procured and cheap, often sold as bathroom or floor cleaner with little scrutiny. Rs 20 worth of acid can destroy an entire life. That is what makes it such a dangerous weapon. At the very least, acid should be banned at retail shops. She added that vendors still sell it openly in residential areas, including her own street.
Where the System Fails Most
Reflecting on her own case, where a Delhi court acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence, Malik identified poor investigation as a major flaw. When the foundation of a case is weak, justice collapses. Beyond that, she cited a lack of sensitivity and strict punishment, with these crimes often treated as ordinary cases. Survivors face discrimination in jobs, housing, and social life due to visible scars, with many confined to their homes for years.
Compensation mechanisms are also inadequate. Only three states—Karnataka, Haryana and Punjab—provide pensions. Even District Legal Services Authority compensation, meant to be disbursed within three months, is delayed for years. Survivors get exhausted and give up, or settle for a measly amount. Not everyone has 16 years or the resources to keep fighting.
Malik's relentless advocacy underscores the urgent need for systemic reform to protect acid attack survivors and ensure justice is not just promised, but delivered.
