Acid attack survivors with internal injuries now covered by disability law, change notified: Centre to Supreme Court

The Central government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it has notified a change in the law to extend the benefits of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, to acid attack survivors who suffer from internal injuries without any external disfigurement [Shaheen Malik v. Union of India].

The development was conveyed to a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.

In May this year, the top court had ruled that the 2016 Act must include under its ambit such acid attack survivors who suffer internal injuries, even if there is no outer disfigurement.

At the time, the Central government submitted that the Nodal Ministry has already initiated steps to amend a Schedule appended to the 2016 Act.

The Court said that until the amendment is made, the term "acid attack victims" must be taken to include acid attack victims who have suffered internal injuries, regardless of whether there is any external disfigurement of the body.

"This clarificatory interpretation shall be deemed to have been incorporated at Serial No. 1A(e) of the Schedule from the inception of the 2016 Act," the Court added in its May 4 order.

The Court added that this clarifiicatio was being issued pending the formal notification of an amendment to the Act by the Central government.

The Court ordered the Union government to formally notify the necessary amendment. The Central government issued this notification on May 22.

Representing the Central government, Solicitor General of India (SG) Tushar Mehta said that an amendment to the 2016 has been notified to clarify that the term "acid attack victims" includes those who suffer internal injuries even without external disfigurement.

"The Union of India has issued a notification dated 22 May 2026 through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, amending the Schedule to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016," the Court recorded.

The Court added that the amendment will deemed to have been existing since the date on which the Act came into effect.

"Since the aforesaid amendment is clarificatory in nature, it shall be deemed to have been in existence with effect from the date on which the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 came into force. The necessary consequences shall follow," the Court said.

The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik, whose own 2009 criminal case exposed systemic failures, including prolonged delays, deficiencies in investigation, inadequate rehabilitation, and poor enforcement of existing safeguards.

The matter has, over time, evolved into a nationwide review of India's response to acid attacks, including the pace of trials in acid attack cases.

In January, the Court had suggested stricter punishment in such cases. In May, the Court orally suggested that those resorting to acid attacks should be deprived of their assets. At the time, the Court also said that shopkeepers selling acid in such cases should be made to face legal consequences.