The Laxmi Foundation Highlights the Plight of Acid Attack Survivors at the NALSA Conference 2026

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Dr. Navpreet Kaur submits a survivor-centric policy framework to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India

Championing a new era of systemic reform, Dr. Navpreet Kaur and the Laxmi Foundation took center stage at the 2026 NALSA North Zone Regional Conference in Dehradun last week.

In a direct push for legislative accountability, Dr. Kaur presented a comprehensive policy roadmap to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant. By addressing critical gaps in financial and medical assistance, this bold initiative provides the CJI with a ready-to-implement blueprint for a more compassionate and effective judicial response to acid violence.

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The 2026 National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) North Zone Regional Conference, held in the serene hills of Uttarakhand, centered on the compassionate theme “Justice Beyond Barriers: Rights, Rehabilitation & Enhancing Access to Justice”.

He also highlighted the need to overcome geographical challenges in hilly regions so that no one is left behind. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Chairman, NALSA and Judge, Supreme Court of India, spoke with deep concern about the necessity of taking justice beyond the physical boundaries of courtrooms, ensuring it truly reaches “justice at the doorstep” for every individual in need of timely and compassionate support.

The conference brought together participants from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Delhi, creating a warm space for meaningful dialogue on strengthening access to justice across these diverse regions.

With great care and dedication, Dr. Navpreet Kaur and Laxmi- the compassionate founders of The Laxmi Foundation, an NGO devoted to supporting acid attack survivors, were warmly invited by the National Legal Services Authority to share the lived realities, challenges, and rights of acid attack survivors on this important platform. Check the foundation here- https://www.thelaxmi.org/

The session was co-chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Venkatanarayana Bhatti, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi.

The benevolent presence of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India further graced the gathering. It is heartening to recall that Laxmi is the courageous petitioner and survivor in the landmark case Laxmi vs Union of India, which brought about significant legal reforms and regulatory measures concerning acid sale control, compensation, and survivor protection frameworks across the country.

Drawing from her rigorous academic foundation at Panjab University and years of grassroots advocacy through the “StopSaleAcid” campaign, Dr. Navpreet Kaur has dedicated her career to addressing the systemic failures that leave acid attack survivors vulnerable. As Vice-President of the Laxmi Foundation, her vision transcends temporary aid, seeking instead to embed survivor rights into the very fabric of the Indian judiciary.

On this meaningful occasion, Dr. Navpreet Kaur submitted a comprehensive, survivor-centric policy draft framework to the Hon’ble Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India. This thoughtful proposal focuses on strengthening medical, legal, rehabilitation, and financial support systems for acid attack survivors, addressing critical gaps, and ensuring long-term, dignified care and assistance. Also read an interview on Acid Attack brutality at “https://journals-times.com/2022/03/07/why-are-acid-attacks-on-women-perpetrated-by-gender-biased-mentality/“

This moment represents a major milestone because it initiates a high-level judicial pipeline; with the CJI signaling a commitment to finalize guidelines this year, these recommendations are positioned to become the definitive legal standard used to hold the government accountable. By moving from research to direct policy intervention, Dr. Kaur’s efforts ensure that the road to recovery is no longer a private struggle, but a legally protected right.

For thousands in India, the path to justice remains as deeply scarred as the skin left behind by a vial of acid. Despite the 2026 NALSA North Zone Regional Conference theme, “Justice Beyond Barriers,” the reality for survivors is often a grueling battle against a systemic “content desert” where support is scarce and reporting gaps remain vast.

Also read, “Stigma, disfigurement and resilience among acid attack survivors: a qualitative body mapping study in Noida, India” at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12853538/#sec27

This historic gathering in Uttarakhand served as the moment that silence was finally broken. It is sincerely hoped that the comprehensive, survivor-centric policy draft will emerge as the frontrunner for progressive national reform.

By bridging the divide between legal frameworks and practical, dignified care, the implementation of this policy carries the potential to transform the law into a true instrument of healing, bringing real hope and a restored future to the lives of acid attack survivors across the nation. Watch this conference at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPUfyGyBiSU&t=2s

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