The Bench termed as “nationwide disgrace” the extended delay in Shaheen Malik’s personal case, which has been pending since 2009 earlier than a Rohini courtroom in New Delhi. File | Picture Credit score: Particular Association
The Supreme Court docket on Thursday (December 4, 2025) directed all of the Excessive Courts to submit particulars of pending trials associated to acid assault circumstances throughout the nation inside 4 weeks, terming the 16-year delay in one of many trials in a Delhi courtroom as a “nationwide disgrace”.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi additionally issued notices to the Middle and the Division of Empowerment of Individuals with Disabilities on a PIL filed by acid assault survivor Shaheen Malik.
The Bench termed as “nationwide disgrace” the extended delay in Malik’s personal case, which has been pending since 2009 earlier than a Rohini courtroom in New Delhi.
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“What a mockery of the authorized system! That is such a disgrace. If the nationwide capital can not deal with this, then who will? That is nationwide disgrace,” the Bench mentioned.
The CJI requested Ms. Malik to file an software within the PIL itself explaining why the matter has not been concluded, assuring her that the courtroom might even take suo motu cognizance.
The Bench sought the small print from the registry of all of the Excessive Courts inside 4 weeks.
Through the listening to, Ms. Malik highlighted the plight of victims who’re pressured to ingest acid, usually surviving with synthetic feeding tubes and extreme disabilities.
The Bench additionally sought the Centre’s response on her plea that acid assault survivors be categorized as individuals with disabilities to make sure entry to welfare schemes.
Solicitor Normal Tushar Mehta assured the courtroom that the difficulty can be taken up with “due seriousness,” including that perpetrators “ought to meet with the identical ruthlessness as carried out right here.”
The CJI urged the Middle to think about amending the regulation, via laws and even an ordinance, in order that acid assault survivors are formally included throughout the definition of individuals with disabilities below the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Act.
The CJI mentioned that acid assault circumstances ought to ideally be tried by particular courts to make sure swift justice.
Printed – December 04, 2025 12:29 pm IST