Are the offences bailable or non-bailable/ cognizable?

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The crime of throwing or helping someone throw acid, is both cognizable and non-bailable.(( Sections 326A and 326B, Indian Penal Code, 1860.))

A cognizable offence is a crime for which a police officer can arrest the perpetrator without a warrant.(( Section 2(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.))

Non-bailable offence is a crime for which bail is not a right and the discretion lies with the court to either grant it or not. To learn more about bail in non-bailable offences, you can read our explainer on Bail for Non-Bailable Offences.

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Related Resources

How is the sale of acid regulated in India?

The sale of acid in India is governed by two levels of regulatory mechanisms, that is, State level rules and Supreme Court rules.

What is Acid Attack?

An acid attack is the crime of hurting a person by throwing acid on them, administering acid to that person or doing anything with acid with the intention or knowledge that it would harm the person.

What are the offences and punishments under this law?

The crimes relating to acid attacks have been specified under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Anyone can be punished for the crimes given below regardless of their gender.

What are the rights a person has under this law?

Survivors of acid attacks have the right to seek medical treatment, right to file a complaint and right to compensation.

What are the complaint forums/helplines?

If you are a survivor of acid attack, you can approach the police, NCW, Sub-divisional Magistrate or any of the National Helplines mentioned herein.

Who does the law protect?

The law on acid attack protects all persons, regardless of their gender. Further, there are no specifications in the law in terms of the age of the survivor.