On December 24, 2025, a Delhi court acquitted the three main accused in a 2009 acid attack case, ending a painful 16-year fight for justice by survivor Shaheen Malik. Malik, attacked at 26, lost vision in one eye and underwent 25 surgeries. She plans to appeal in the Delhi High Court. "The verdict will discourage other survivors from seeking justice," she said. Acid attacks involve throwing corrosive substances like sulfuric acid on victims, causing severe burns, disfigurement, blindness, and psychological trauma. Women and girls are the main victims. Motivations often include revenge and personal disputes. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, India saw 207 acid attacks in 2023, up from previous years. Conviction rates remain low: out of 703 cases in courts in 2023, only 16 ended in convictions, while 27 saw acquittals. Laws were strengthened after a 2013 Supreme Court ruling. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita now mandates 10 years to life imprisonment for acid attacks, plus fines to cover medical costs. Hospitals must provide free treatment. However, enforcement of acid sale regulations is weak. Malik criticized the legal system, saying, "There is a complete failure of the system… The police investigation was shoddy, evidence ignored, and judicial insensitivity extreme.” She added, “The accused offered me crores of rupees. I did not take one paisa because I wanted my rights, not money.” Survivors demand stricter acid sale bans and faster court processes. Malik pointed out, "Has even one SDM been punished for illegal sales?" Bangladesh’s strict laws and awareness campaigns cut attacks dramatically since 2002. Experts call for faster compensation, legal support, sensitizing judges, and a national fund for survivors’ lifelong care, as recommended by the Justice J.S. Verma Committee. Without these changes, survivors face long battles and low hope for justice.