<p>Victims of acid attack not only struggle to survive but also face hardship in getting justice against those who make their lives miserable. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Experts and lawyers said their are loopholes in legislation which makes this difficult.<br /><br />“There is no specific offence called an acid attack in Indian law. It is taken as causing harm or hurt and a maximum of two-year punishment is given for it,” said lawyer Colin Gonsalves of the human rights law network.<br /><br />Tuba Tabassum, the 15-year-old acid attack victim from Siwan, Bihar, came to Safdarjung hospital in a critical condition. She lost an eye and had burns all over the body. <br /><br />“Sometimes, accused pours one full jug of acid on a victim and at times on her head. Why should these not be treated as attempt to murder,” said Gonsalves.<br /><br />“The accused should be booked under sections 302 (murder) or 307 (attempt to murder).”<br /><br />He said an acid attack should be treated as a separate offence amounting to life imprisonment and an appropriate compensation to be ensured to the victim. <br /><br />“The victim is given a paltry sum of Rs 3 to 5 lakh as compensation. Judges, case after case, only ask for this much from the accused while the reconstructive surgery after burns takes nearly Rs 10 lakh,” said Gonsalves.<br /><br />An official in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said they are pushing for adeq-uate compensation from state governments, but not much progress has been made so far.<br /><br />Gonsalves said the state should take the responsibility to provide financial help to the victim. “It is due to the failure of law and order that such incidents happen. <br /><br />The government should release funds to victims till the compensation is paid,” he said.<br />The NCPCR official added that the changes are required not only in the criminal law, but in how we look at victims of revenge. <br /><br />“Where the intention is permanent damage to the victim, law should take into cognizance the motive behind such acts,” said the official.<br /><br />Even if the accused is a juvenile, there has to be some special provisions that punish him according to the gruesomeness of the act, he added.<br /></p>
<p>Victims of acid attack not only struggle to survive but also face hardship in getting justice against those who make their lives miserable. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Experts and lawyers said their are loopholes in legislation which makes this difficult.<br /><br />“There is no specific offence called an acid attack in Indian law. It is taken as causing harm or hurt and a maximum of two-year punishment is given for it,” said lawyer Colin Gonsalves of the human rights law network.<br /><br />Tuba Tabassum, the 15-year-old acid attack victim from Siwan, Bihar, came to Safdarjung hospital in a critical condition. She lost an eye and had burns all over the body. <br /><br />“Sometimes, accused pours one full jug of acid on a victim and at times on her head. Why should these not be treated as attempt to murder,” said Gonsalves.<br /><br />“The accused should be booked under sections 302 (murder) or 307 (attempt to murder).”<br /><br />He said an acid attack should be treated as a separate offence amounting to life imprisonment and an appropriate compensation to be ensured to the victim. <br /><br />“The victim is given a paltry sum of Rs 3 to 5 lakh as compensation. Judges, case after case, only ask for this much from the accused while the reconstructive surgery after burns takes nearly Rs 10 lakh,” said Gonsalves.<br /><br />An official in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said they are pushing for adeq-uate compensation from state governments, but not much progress has been made so far.<br /><br />Gonsalves said the state should take the responsibility to provide financial help to the victim. “It is due to the failure of law and order that such incidents happen. <br /><br />The government should release funds to victims till the compensation is paid,” he said.<br />The NCPCR official added that the changes are required not only in the criminal law, but in how we look at victims of revenge. <br /><br />“Where the intention is permanent damage to the victim, law should take into cognizance the motive behind such acts,” said the official.<br /><br />Even if the accused is a juvenile, there has to be some special provisions that punish him according to the gruesomeness of the act, he added.<br /></p>
