The Supreme Court has widened the meaning of ‘acid attack victims’ under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, so that people forced to swallow acid are also covered. Invoking Article 142, the Court said this will operate as a “deemed amendment” until Parliament changes the law, and it applies retrospectively from 2016. Such survivors can now claim disability benefits, rehabilitation, financial aid and legal protection even without visible external injuries. The Court also suggested attaching offenders' assets for compensation, reversing the burden of proof and treating illegal acid sellers as co-accused.