Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 326A—Constitution of India, 1950, Article 136—Sentencing—Acid Attack—Judicial Interference with Concurrent Findings—Mitigating Circumstances—The Supreme Court considered appeals against concurrent findings of guilt under Section 326A IPC by the Trial Court and the High Court of Delhi—The appellants were convicted for throwing acid on a woman, causing 90% vision loss and facial disfigurement—The Court reaffirmed the limited scope of interference under Article 136 of the Constitution where concurrent findings are based on cogent evidence—After examining medical records, eyewitness testimonies, and procedural compliance, the Court upheld the conviction—However, noting the advanced age (73 years), deteriorating health, and parity with a co-accuse...

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC)—Sections 307 and 324—Acid attack—The victim, P.W.1, testified that she was followed by the accused, known to her, and when she declined the accused No.1's proposal to marry, accused No.2 threw acid on her shoulder, face, and ear—The court carefully examined P.W.1's evidence, found a clear motive, and upheld the appellant's conviction—The appeal was dismissed. ...

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC)—Section 313, Section 366—Evidence Act, 1872—Section 32—Penal Code, 1860 (IPC)—Section 302, Section 376—Accused were initially convicted, but the High Court acquitted them citing delay and issues with the investigation—Supreme Court, in its judgment, criticized the handling of the case, including the failure to record a dying declaration, negligence in the investigation, and the doctor's unprofessional conduct—It emphasized the importance of proper investigation and adherence to medico-legal procedures, while also addressing the rise in acid attacks and the need for stricter regulation of corrosive substances. ...

Acid Attack Victim—Compensation—Held that the Court in Laxmi’s case doesn’t put a bar on the Govt. to award compensation limited to Rs.3 Lakhs — State has the discretion to provide more compensation to the victim in the case of acid attack as per Laxmi’s case guidelines — Court has not put any condition in Laxmi’s case as to the degree of injuries which a victim has suffered due to acid attack —Victim’s father has already spent more than Rs. 5 lakhs for the treatment of the victim — In consideration of the severity of the victim’s injury, expenditure with regard to grafting and reconstruction surgery, physical and mental pain, etc., victim directed to be compensated to a tune of at least Rs. 10 Lakhs —Compensation must not only be awarded in terms of the physica...

Acid attack—The Union of India, through an affidavit filed by Mr.S. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, informed the Court about the meetings held on April 18, 2013, and April 22, 2013, following the Court's order dated April 16, 2013, concerning the regulation of acid sales in retail—The meetings, involving representatives from various Ministries and State Governments, emphasized the need for regulating the sale of acids due to the rise in acid attacks—It was suggested that a new set of Rules under the Poisons Act, 1919 be drafted, in consultation with relevant authorities, to control the retail sale of harmful acids such as hydrochloric, sulphuric, and nitric acids—Some states, including Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, and Kerala, had already framed rules regulating the sale of a...