Supreme Court Review of Laws Regarding Acid Attack Crimes and Victim Rights

May 4, 2026, 20:30
IndiaPolitics

Introduction

The Supreme Court of India has given new instructions to the central government to increase penalties for acid attacks and expand the definition of disability for victims.

Main Body

This legal action was caused by a public interest lawsuit filed by Shaheen Malik, who argued that acid attack survivors should be included in the disability category to receive government welfare benefits. Consequently, the Court ruled that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, must include people who suffered internal injuries from drinking acid, even if they have no visible scars. The Solicitor General confirmed that the government has already started drafting changes to the law to include these victims. Furthermore, the Court emphasized that current punishments are not strong enough to stop these crimes, as the number of attacks has risen since 2013. The judges suggested a major change in the legal process: instead of the prosecution proving guilt, the accused person should have to prove their innocence. Additionally, the Court recommended seizing the assets of criminals to pay for victim compensation and holding illegal acid sellers responsible for the crimes, noting that acid is too easy and cheap to buy.

Conclusion

The Court has asked the government to review these legal improvements and has set a follow-up hearing for two weeks from now.

Learning

⚡ The 'B2 Leap': From Basic Description to Complex Logic

At the A2 level, you describe what happened. At the B2 level, you explain how one thing leads to another. To bridge this gap, we are focusing on Logical Connectors and Resultative Phrasing found in this text.

🧩 The Power Shift: "Consequently"

An A2 student says: "Shaheen Malik filed a lawsuit. The court changed the law."

The B2 Upgrade: Use "Consequently". This word acts like a bridge. It tells the reader: "Because of the action I just mentioned, this specific result happened." It transforms two simple sentences into a professional, legal-style argument.

Example from text: "...filed by Shaheen Malik... Consequently, the Court ruled..."

🛠️ Expanding the Scope: "Furthermore" & "Additionally"

B2 speakers don't just list things using "and... and... and." They use Additive Transitions to build a stronger case.

  • Furthermore: Used when you want to add a point that is even more important than the previous one.
  • Additionally: Used to add extra information that supports the same idea.

Compare these styles:

  • A2 Style: The punishments are weak. More attacks are happening. Acid is cheap.
  • B2 Style: The punishments are not strong enough. Furthermore, the number of attacks has risen. Additionally, the Court noted that acid is too cheap to buy.

⚠️ Advanced Nuance: "Instead of"

To move toward B2, you must be able to contrast two different systems. The phrase "instead of" allows you to replace an old idea with a new one in a single sentence.

  • The Logic: [Old Way/Wrong Way] →\rightarrow instead of →\rightarrow [New Way/Right Way].
  • Text Application: "...instead of the prosecution proving guilt, the accused person should have to prove their innocence."

Vocabulary Learning

penalties (n.)
Punishments or fines imposed by law.
Example:The new penalties for vandalism were announced yesterday.
acid attacks (n.)
Violent assaults involving the use of acid.
Example:The city has seen a rise in acid attacks in recent years.
expand (v.)
To make larger or increase in size or scope.
Example:The government plans to expand the park to include a new playground.
definition (n.)
A statement that explains the meaning of a word or concept.
Example:The definition of "freedom" varies across cultures.
disability (n.)
A physical or mental condition that limits a person's activities.
Example:Her disability makes it difficult for her to climb stairs.
survivors (n.)
People who have lived through a dangerous or traumatic event.
Example:The survivors gathered to share their stories.
welfare (n.)
The health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group.
Example:The welfare program provides food and shelter to those in need.
benefits (n.)
Advantages or profits received.
Example:Employees receive health benefits from the company.
internal injuries (n.)
Wounds or damage inside the body.
Example:He suffered internal injuries after the car crash.
visible scars (n.)
Marks on the skin that can be seen.
Example:The visible scars on his arm told the story of the accident.
prosecution (n.)
The legal process of charging someone with a crime.
Example:The prosecution presented evidence at the trial.
proving (v.)
Demonstrating that something is true or correct.
Example:She was busy proving her point with data.
innocence (n.)
The state of not having committed a crime.
Example:He claimed his innocence in the interview.
seizing (v.)
Taking possession of something, often by authority.
Example:The police were seizing the contraband from the suspect.
compensation (n.)
Money paid to make up for loss or injury.
Example:The company offered compensation for the damage.