Acid Attacks, Known for Their Brutality & Life-altering Impact, Among Most Grievous Crimes: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court, while stressing on the seriousness of acid attack cases and their psychological impact, has underscored the pivotal role of the judiciary in deciding whether to grant or deny bail to the accused.

In a recent ruling, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma acknowledged that acid attacks, known for their brutality and life-altering consequences, send shockwaves through communities and leave victims not only with physical scars but also emotional trauma.

“A heinous crime such as an acid attack on a woman, disfiguring her for life, in broad daylight in a thickly populated area due to a repelled love proposition, can evoke strong emotions… in addition to inflicting grave psychological trauma to the victim. It is in such situations and cases that the court’s role as a guardian of justice needs to come to the fore,” the court said.

Justice Sharma’s remarks came as he denied bail to an accused involved in a case where acid was allegedly thrown on a 30-year-old senior resident doctor. The attack was allegedly planned with a fellow doctor with whom the accused worked as a compounder.

The prosecution argued that the co-accused orchestrated the crime after the victim rejected his marriage proposal. The court’s assessment showed that the accused not only engaged juveniles to carry out the attack but was also actively involved in planning and executing it, including from planning to rehearsing using syringes filled with water and scouting the area as well as the route the victim took.

The accused sought bail on grounds that they were in judicial custody for the past nine years, with the trial set to continue for some time. Justice Sharma, while recognising the challenge of balancing the heinousness of the crime with the lengthy incarceration of the accused, stressed on the importance of due process and upholding individual rights even in the face of abhorrent offences.

The court also acknowledged the psychological pain and lifelong consequences faced by the victim, stressing how the incident must have instilled fear and insecurity among women in society.

“While the accused may lament his prolonged incarceration during the trial, this court cannot overlook the victim’s perpetual agony; the constant reminder of the incident, and the loss of her face and vision,” the court said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the nine-year delay in trial, Justice Sharma ordered the examination of the remaining seven witnesses in the case to proceed on a day-to-day basis. The court aimed to conclude the trial in four months, ensuring that witnesses appear promptly given the age of the case and potential witness transfers or retirements.