Last Change:
10/17/2024
The Acid Crimes Prevention Act
Year: 2002
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Health, Liberty & security of person, Social protection
Description
The Acid Crimes Prevention Act, 2002 is enacted to control acid crimes. There are various punishments depending on the parts of the body affected by acid. The offences under the Act are non-bailable and will be tried in the Acid Crimes Prevention Tribunal.
Selected provisions
If any person causes death to any other person with acid, such person shall be punishable with death or with rigorous imprisonment for life and, in addition to that, with fine not exceeding Taka one lac.
If any person injures any other person with acid in such a manner that his–
(a) His or her sight or hearing is damaged in whole or part or face, breast or sex organs get deformed or damaged, such person shall be punishable with death or with rigorous imprisonment for life and, in addition to that, with fine not exceeding Taka one lac.
(b) any other organ, gland or part of the body gets deformed or damaged or any part of the body receives blow, such person shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years but not less than seven years and, in addition to that, with fine not exceeding Taka fifty thousand.
If any person throws acid or attempts to throw acid on any other person, in that case such person for such act shall, despite not inflicting any bodily or mental damage or any loss of any other kind, be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years but not less than three years and, in addition to that, with fine not exceeding Taka fifty thousand.
If any person abets in the commission of any offense under this Act, and if such offense is committed or attempted to be committed by consequence of such abetment, the abettor shall be punishable with similar punishment as prescribed for the commission or attempt to commit such offense.
(1) If any person with the intent to harm any other person files or causes to file any false case or complaint against that person in spite of knowing that there is no just or legal cause of filing such case or complaint under any section of this Act, such person who has filed or caused to file such case or complaint shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and, in addition to that, with fine.
(2) The Tribunal may receive complaint of an offense committed under sub-section (1) and hold trial on the basis of any complaint made in writing by any person.
The amount of fine imposed under this Act shall, in pursuance of the provisions of the existing laws, be recovered from the person so penalized or form his existing asset, or in case of his death, from the asset he left behind at the time of his death and it shall be paid to the successor of the person whose death has been caused by such offense or, as the case may be, to such person who has been physically or mentally affected, or in case of death of such person, to his successor.
(1) The investigation into any offense under this Act shall be completed by the police officer concerned within thirty days from the date of receipt of information regarding the commission of offense or from date on which the Magistrate gives order for such investigation.
(2) Where it is not possible to complete an investigation within such period as referred to in sub-section (1), the Tribunal may extend the period for not exceeding fifteen days if the investigation officer is able to satisfy the Tribunal showing special cause that it is expedient to extend the investigation period in the interest of justice.
(3) In such case where an investigation cannot be completed within such extended period as referred to in sub-section (2), after the expiry of such period or anytime during the trial in case of any application made or in the interest of justice if the Tribunal becomes satisfied that it is necessary to complete the investigation into the offense or, as the case may be, carry out further investigation relating thereto, a Tribunal may direct that the investigation or further investigation be completed within a period of additional fifteen days.
(4) If any investigation officer fails to completed the investigation within such additional period as directed under sub-section (2) or, as the case may be, sub-section (3), the Tribunal may-
(a) direct the authority concerned that the investigation be completed by another officer within a period not exceeding fifteen days; and
(b) mark the matter of failure of such officer who has so failed to complete the investigation within specified period under this section as his inefficiency and direct the controlling authority of that officer to take action against him.
(5) The Tribunal may, upon receipt of any application or on the basis of any other information, direct the authority concerned to appoint one investigation officer in place of another.
After the submission of investigation report if the Tribunal is satisfied by reviewing the information relating to investigation that a person who has been mentioned as an accused is desirable to be considered as a witness in the interest of justice, it may direct that such person be deemed as a witness
If it appear to the Tribunal after the completion of examining witness that any officer investigating an offense under this Act has, either intentionally to save person or out of negligence, submitted investigation report without collecting or taking account of any alamat to be used in proving the offense and making such person witness in lieu of making him accused or without examining any important witness, the Tribunal may, upon marking such act of the investigation officer as his inefficiency or as a misconduct, direct the controlling authority of such officer to take appropriate legal action against him.
All offenses under this Act shall be cognizable, non-compoundable and non-bailable.