Rethink strategy, heavily regulate acid sale to curb attacks, says SC

NEW DELHI: Concerned by the spiralling incidents of acid attacks, mostly on women by jilted lovers, Supreme Court Tuesday told Centre about the urgent need for a revisit of the existing guidelines to put in place a robust preventive mechanism and consider heavily regulating retail sale of acid.“Why should acid be sold in the open market? What is the compulsion of govts to allow such sales? It is no longer needed in the households because of availability of better substitutes,” court said.The bench told additional solicitor general Archana Pathak Dave that Centre must rethink its strategy to prevent acid attacks that physically and mentally scar people for their entire life.

Dave said government had framed guidelines and circulated among states for implementation but found there is laxity in enforcing the mechanism suggested by Centre.“The increasing incidents of acid attack indicates the guidelines have failed miserably,” it said.It asked Centre: “Have you sought explanation from any state which was lax in implementing the guidelines? Maybe in the federal framework it is difficult, but this shows either there are loopholes or laxity in implementation. If there are loopholes, govt needs to revise and reframe them.”The bench said, “The ASG informs the court that govt will file an affidavit on the regulated sale of acid in open market and the steps that should be taken by the states to prevent acid attacks.”