Introduction On 4 May 2026, the Supreme Court of India, in its order in Shaheen Malik v. Union of India (‘Shaheen Malik’), interpreted the meaning of ‘acid attack victims’ under The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (‘RPwD Act’) to include persons to whom acid was forcefully administered, including those who suffer internal injuries irrespective of external disfigurement. This interpretation promotes equality, non-discrimination, and enables affirmative action for