The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed all states and union territories to frame a policy for providing government employment to acid attack survivors as part of their rehabilitation. The court said that if offering jobs was not feasible due to logistical constraints, authorities must instead design a policy to grant a subsistence allowance to support the victims’ livelihood.
The direction was issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi during the hearing of a plea filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik. The bench asked all states and union territories to explain why no structured rehabilitation scheme ensuring government jobs for survivors had been formulated so far. It added that where employment is difficult to provide, financial assistance through a subsistence allowance must be ensured.
Malik’s petition highlighted the everyday hardships faced by acid attack survivors due to severe facial disfigurement and physical injuries. She informed the court that survivors frequently encounter obstacles while opening bank accounts, obtaining Aadhaar cards, registering or updating property documents, and even purchasing mobile SIM cards because identity verification processes become complicated.
The plea also raised concerns regarding Know Your Customer procedures, which require digital verification methods such as pupil scanning, blinking detection, and fingerprint authentication. These processes, the petition said, often become impossible for acid attack survivors due to extensive injuries, leaving them excluded from essential services and financial systems.
Earlier, several survivors had urged the Supreme Court to direct the central government to introduce an inclusive and alternative digital KYC mechanism that accommodates their physical limitations. They argued that the absence of flexible verification systems results in systemic exclusion from banking and official services.
During earlier hearings in the same matter, the court also emphasised the need for stricter punishment in acid attack cases. The bench suggested that assets of those convicted should be attached and auctioned to compensate victims, observing that such crimes cause irreversible harm and may not warrant a reformative approach. The judges stressed that stronger punitive and rehabilitative measures are necessary to ensure justice and long-term support for survivors.
