New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh has 198 pending acid attack cases and West Bengal has 160, the Supreme Court was informed by high courts this week.
Gujarat reported 114 pending cases, Bihar 68, and Maharashtra 58, according to an office report submitted by 17 high courts in response to the Supreme Court’s December 2025 directive seeking details of pending acid attack cases. Status reports from the remaining eight high courts are still awaited, the order noted.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued a series of stringent directives 27 January, made public Wednesday, highlighting varying levels of judicial pendency and the urgent need for comprehensive victim rehabilitation.
The order came in response to a petition filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik, who has sought the inclusion of victims of forceful acid ingestion as “acid attack victims” under the Rights to Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
“We request all the High Courts to consider the desirability of taking a decision for expeditious conclusion of the trials in the matters concerning acid attacks, in a time-bound manner and if required, even on an out-of-turn basis,” the court said.
Also Read: What drove a paraplegic 9-yr-old to Uttarakhand HC—‘will railways quarter provide all this?’
Rehabilitation framework
In its six-page order, the Supreme Court emphasised that while high courts must lead trials to their “logical conclusion”, it is “equally incumbent upon the State and all concerned authorities to consider, formulate, and act upon appropriate rehabilitation measures”.
The court directed all State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) to submit detailed reports on existing schemes for compensation, rehabilitation, and medical aid for acid attack survivors. Executive chairpersons of SLSAs in states lacking such frameworks have been mandated to “do the needful” and submit compliance reports.
Four-week deadline for data
The top court set a four-week deadline for state governments, high courts and SLSAs to provide comprehensive information beyond pendency figures.
The data sought includes year-wise reporting of acid attack incidents and whether charge-sheets were successfully filed, current case status showing decided versus trial-stage matters, and the number of pending appeals.
The court also required personalised data for each survivor, including academic qualifications, marital status and employment status, as well as financial and medical transparency regarding state expenditure incurred or committed for treatment.
Detailed particulars for victims of forceful acid ingestion or consumption have also been required.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on 9 March next, by which time all authorities must comply with the reporting requirements.
Also Read: For son who can’t walk, Delhi HC brings BSF ASI home—PWDs’ caregivers entitled to transfer exemption