Supreme Court proposes auctioning assets of accused to compensate acid attack victims

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested stricter steps to tackle acid attack cases, suggesting that offenders' assets could be auctioned off if they can't afford to compensate victims. [Shaheen Malik v. Union of India & Anr]

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions on dealing with acid attack cases, stressed that punishments in acid attack cases must be strong enough to discourage such attacks.

The Bench stated that victims must be compensated, even if the offender’s property has to be sold to do so.

“If the accused cannot pay compensation, why not attach all assets and then be auctioned to pay off the victim?” CJI Kant asked aloud.

He added that acid attack cases required punishment beyond routine legal responses.

“Some extraordinary punitive measures are needed beyond the letter of law. Unless the action is so painful for the accused it will not work...Reformative theory has no place here.”

The Court directed all States and Union Territories to place detailed information on record regarding acid attack cases across the country.

"Let all States and Union territories furnish a list of incidents of attacks reported year wise, whether chargesheets were filed or not... How many cases are decided and how many are pending," the Court said.

In addition, the Court also sought specific details about each acid attack victim. It asked for,

"The brief particular of each victim of acid attack, her academic qualification...her employment...marital status...medical treatment...expenses incurred or to be incurred...rehabilitation scheme for the victim of acid attack if any."

The Court asked the governments to submit these details within four weeks.

During the hearing, the Bench said that acid attacks were crimes of extreme seriousness and comparable to other grave offences against women, warranting strong legal responses.

CJI Kant also asked the Union government to consider whether new laws or legal changes were required to deal with acid attacks more effectively.

Addressing Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, he said,

“Think of some legislative intervention...this is not less serious than dowry death also.”

The Court’s directions on compensation and case data come against a backdrop of growing concern over delays in acid attack trials across the country.

It had earlier ordered the Registrars General of all High Courts to submit details of all pending acid attack trials nationwide, underscoring systemic delays and the need for urgent action to ensure timely justice for victims.

[Read Live Coverage]