Voluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid is an offence punishable under _______ of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Section 326-B

Explanation:
• Section 326-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) specifically deals with voluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid.
• This section was inserted into the IPC by the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, following the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee.
• It carries a punishment of imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
• The section covers acts intended to cause permanent or partial damage or deformity, regardless of whether actual hurt is caused.
• In 2023, the IPC was replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), where these provisions are now covered under Section 124.

Information Booster:
• Section 326-A of the IPC deals with the actual act of causing grievous hurt by use of acid, carrying a stricter punishment (minimum 10 years to life imprisonment).
• The Supreme Court, in the Laxmi v. Union of India case, issued directives to regulate the sale of acid and provide compensation to victims.

Additional Knowledge:
(a) Section 228-A (Option a)
• Deals with the disclosure of the identity of the victim of certain offences, such as rape.

(c) Section 376-A (Option c)
• Deals with punishment for causing death or resulting in a persistent vegetative state of a rape victim.

(d) Section 292-B (Option d)
• There is no standard Section 292-B; Section 292 generally relates to obscene books and materials.