PolitySocial Justice
News 12 of 23

SC Considers PIL to Expand RPwD Act 2016 Disability Rights to Victims of Forceful Acid Ingestion

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
10 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:RPwD Act 2016Section 124 BNSRs 8,000 monthly support198 cases in UP160 cases in WB114 cases in Gujarat
Bodies:Supreme Court of IndiaUnion Government
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.A PIL by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik seeks to expand the definition of 'acid attack victim' under the RPwD Act, 2016 to include victims of forceful acid ingestion.

2.The petition highlights a legal incoherence: while Section 124 of the BNS penalizes both 'throwing' and 'administering' acid equally, the RPwD Act's welfare definition creates an arbitrary distinction.

3.The exclusion denies victims of acid ingestion access to disability certificates, state compensation schemes (like Rs 8,000 monthly support), and rehabilitation, raising constitutional questions under Articles 14 and 21.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

A PIL in the Supreme Court seeks to bridge a legal gap under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Currently, the Act recognizes only victims who had acid thrown on them, excluding those forced to ingest acid. The plea argues this violates Articles 14 and 21, as the penal law (BNS) punishes both acts equally.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

RPwD Act Year2016
BNS Section for Acid AttackSection 124
State Monthly SupportRs 8,000 (Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka)
Constitutional Articles CitedArticle 14 & Article 21
Pending Acid Attack Trials (UPSC Prelims Data)198 in UP, 160 in WB, 114 in Gujarat, 68 in Bihar, 58 in Maharashtra

1-Minute Revision

  • ›RPwD Act Year: 2016
  • ›BNS Section for Acid Attack: Section 124
  • ›Target this Data: 198 pending acid attack cases in Uttar Pradesh (as per SC data).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court of India (handling the PIL) and the Union Government (for framing policy).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) - 'Causing hurt by use of acid, etc.'

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) discussed in the news was filed in which court?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the legal issue highlighted in the news:

1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, currently defines an acid attack victim specifically as a person disfigured due to 'throwing' of acid.

2. Section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) penalizes causing hurt only by 'throwing' acid and not by 'administering' it.

3. The petition argues that the different treatment of victims based on the method of acid attack violates Article 14 of the Constitution.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the data presented to the Supreme Court in January, which state had the highest number of pending acid attack trials?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary constitutional ground on which the PIL challenges the exclusion of forceful acid ingestion victims from the RPwD Act?

All 25 MCQs ▸
You finished this topic
Explore Related Topics
Related Current Affairs
Polity Current Affairs

Election Commission's SIR Deletes 13 Crore Names from Draft Rolls; Raises Questions on Population & Voting Rights

The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has led to the deletion of 13 crore names from draft rolls, including nearly one-third of Delhi's electorate. This article by a former Chief Election Commissioner uses satire to highlight the absurdity of treating electoral roll deletions as a solution to India's population problem, while drawing parallels with the Assam NRC and warning of potential disenfranchisement of eligible citizens.

Polity Current Affairs

Health Ministry Backs Same-Sex Partners' Medical Decision Rights Under Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

The Union Health Ministry has told the Delhi High Court that excluding same-sex partners from making medical decisions for each other solely based on sexual orientation is unethical. This marks a significant administrative shift, though the government maintains that 'spouse' under Indian marriage laws only applies to heterosexual couples, creating a nuanced legal landscape for exam aspirants.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Landmark Judgments: From Basic Structure to Privacy - 80 Years of Rights & Freedoms

A compilation of landmark Supreme Court judgments from 1973 to 2019 that shaped fundamental rights, gender equality, privacy, and democracy in India. Essential for understanding constitutional evolution and judicial activism.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Proposes Exempting Current Class 6 from Three-Language Policy; Centre Seeks More Time

The Supreme Court has proposed exempting the current Class 6 batch from the mandatory three-language policy, suggesting implementation from January 1, 2027. The Centre has sought more time to decide, while the court has asked for details on teacher availability and infrastructure.

Polity Current Affairs

SC's 76-Year Journey: Reforms at Magistracy Level Needed for Judicial Overhaul

A former Delhi High Court judge critiques the Indian judiciary's performance over 76 years, highlighting issues like eviction of poor without rehabilitation, failure to curb extra-legal punishments, and delay in upholding progressive judgments. The article argues that meaningful judicial reform must begin at the magisterial level, focusing on mentoring, mental health support, and performance evaluation reforms.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Seeks Replies on NRC ID Cards: 3.11 Crore Await Documents, 19 Lakh Excluded

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and Assam government to respond to pleas seeking issuance of identity cards to 3.11 crore people included in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) 2019, while another 19 lakh excluded persons await the appeal process. This case is critical for exam aspirants as it tests knowledge of the Citizenship Act, NRC process, and Assam Accord provisions.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Proposes Special Courts for CBI & NIA Cases on Manipur Ethnic Violence; 891 Witnesses Yet to Testify

The Supreme Court has proposed setting up exclusive Special Courts to hear cases related to the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence investigated by the CBI and NIA, highlighting the slow pace of trials. With 891 out of 904 witnesses yet to be examined and serious charges including sexual violence, this move aims to expedite justice. For exam aspirants, this links to judicial administration, Article 14 (speedy trial), and the role of special courts under the NIA Act.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Forms HPEC Led by Justice R Subhash Reddy to Probe Police Excesses During NEET Protests

The Supreme Court has constituted a High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), led by former SC judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, to investigate the alleged disproportionate use of force by police against protesters at Jantar Mantar and other locations during the NEET-UG paper leak protests. The panel will examine 12 critical issues including use of pellet guns, targeting of female protesters, and the misuse of legal provisions like Section 163 BNSS and Section 152 BNS.