Telangana state cabinet has approved a proposal to enact legislation to provide continuing medical care to victims of acid attacks and to ensure that those convicted for acid attacks are sentenced from 10 years to life imprisonment.
The state government will make the changes in the existing act. The cabinet also cleared a proposal to give the fine collected from convicts to the family members of the victims. This will help the victims not just the physical disfigurement but also psychological scars and social stigma after that.
The government is also mulling a rehabilitation policy, such as specialized medical care for burns and elaborate plastic surgery. Acid attacks are covered by Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code which proposes punishment of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment for perpetrators and fine that could go up to Rs 10 lakh. This new law of Telangana government will have additional provisions to that act.
