Shaheen Malik, an acid attack survivor and disability rights activist in India, is spearheading a crucial legal petition to the Supreme Court to include survivors forced to ingest acid under the country’s disability law, highlighting systemic gaps in justice and rehabilitation for victims.
In 2019, Ruman, a 28-year-old woman, was allegedly beaten and forced to drink acid by her husband, leaving her with severe internal injuries. Despite weighing only 21kg and requiring constant medical care, she is excluded from compensation benefits because India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, only recognizes victims with visible disfigurement from thrown acid, not those who ingested it.
Malik, 42, has personal experience with such trauma. Attacked with acid in 2009 outside her workplace in Haryana, she underwent 25 surgeries and lost vision in one eye. After a 16-year legal battle, a trial court acquitted her perpetrators in December, a verdict she has challenged, fueling her resolve to fight for others.
In 2021, Malik co-founded the Brave Souls Foundation with fellow survivor Laxmi Agarwal. The non-profit provides legal and economic aid, operating a shelter home in Delhi for about 50 survivors, including Ruman, who avoid burdening their families while seeking justice.
Acid attack cases in India face abysmal conviction rates. Data from 2017-2021 shows only 15 of 600 pending cases were disposed of, and in 2023, of 703 cases, only 43 were resolved with 16 convictions. Meanwhile, attacks are rising, with 207 recorded in 2023, up from 176 in 2021.
Last month, the Supreme Court, hearing Malik’s petition, directed states to submit yearly reports on acid attacks, pending cases, and rehabilitation schemes. It condemned the attacks and suggested punitive measures like auctioning attackers’ assets and shifting the burden of proof to the accused.
Despite legal mandates for free medical care, survivors often face refusal from private hospitals without court orders, delaying treatment. Malik also criticizes the easy availability of acid despite regulations, urging stronger prevention measures to curb the rising incidents.
Social stigma compounds these challenges; Malik recently faced eviction without reason, struggling to find new office space due to prejudices against acid attack survivors. Yet, she remains undeterred, vowing to continue her fight for dignity and justice, embodying resilience in the face of adversity.
