Acid ingestion included in amended Act: Centre to SC, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Union government has amended the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016, to include victims of acid ingestion within the definition of "acid attack victim".
• A notification was issued on May 22, 2026, by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, expanding the definition to cover internal injuries caused by acid or similar corrosive substances.
• The amendment has retrospective effect, allowing victims with internal injuries prior to May 22, 2026, to claim benefits under the Act.
• This change follows the Supreme Court's intervention, which used its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to address the legislative gap.

Detailed Insights:

• Previously, the RPwD Act, 2016, only recognized victims of acid-throwing, excluding those who suffered internal injuries from forced acid ingestion.
• The expanded definition now includes individuals "disfigured externally or internally due to violent assault, self-infliction, accident by throwing, administering, or spilling of acid or similar corrosive substance".
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code, already penalizes both acid-throwing and administration under Section 124, with punishments ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
• The Supreme Court had urged the Centre to make this amendment, highlighting the "ruthless, heinous" nature of such crimes and the need to ensure all victims receive support.
• This amendment ensures that victims with internal injuries, even without external disfigurement, can access critical state support and benefits under disability law.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016: An Indian law enacted to ensure the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): A new criminal code in India that replaced the Indian Penal Code, defining various offenses and their punishments.
• Article 142 of the Constitution: Empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing "complete justice" in any matter before it.