CRIME AGAINST WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY IS A NEVER-ENDING CYCLE - KERALA HC IN AN ACID ATTACK CASE

The Kerala HC bench of Justice B Veerappa and Justice V Srishananda said that "Acid attack is a crime against human rights and violates the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the constitution".

The bench was hearing a case of a 32-year-old man named Mahesh, a lover who attacked the victim merely because she refused to marry him as her parents did not give consent, and therefore he poured acid on her face and body. During the acid attack on the victim, the acid also fell on Raghu, a U KJ Student and sustained corrosive injuries on his face and head and thus, the accused caused corrosive injuries to both.

Considering the health care and mental scars suffered by the victim, the Bench confirmed the compensation of a Rs 10 lakh fine as imposed by the trial court.

The Bench said that the brutality of the accused shocked the conscience of the court. An acid attack is not only a crime against the victims but also against civilized society. When acid is thrown on a woman, it is not merely physical pain but a deep sense of deathless shame. The victim's body is not a plaything that the accused can take advantage of in order to satisfy his revenge. Crime against women in this country is a never-ending cycle. It is high time to deal with acid attackers with iron hands.

An alarming growth of acid attacks has been seen against women over the last decade. The main issue is the existence of male domination in the country and the social weakness of women—moreover, the easy and inexpensive availability of acid.

Lastly, the Court convicted the appellant/accused of the offence punishable under Section 326A of IPC and sentencing him to undergo life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.10,00,000/-

Author: Papiha Ghoshal