Acid sale: Women’s body queries DMs on implementation of SC order

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has asked all district magistrates (DMs) in the national Capital to furnish details of acid sale and implementation of a Supreme Court order regulating it in view of increased numbers of acid attacks on women and girls. Underlining that the DCW was working towards a safer city, its chairperson Swati Maliwal in her letter to the DMs has quoted the Supreme Court order dated July 18, 2013, asking them to furnish all details regarding the sale of acid and steps taken for the implementation of the Apex Court’s order for its regulation.

The court, in its order, had regulated the sale of acid, directing sellers to maintain a log of the sold quantity. They were also directed to sell acid to buyers fulfilling certain conditions such as showing identity cards and giving reason for procuring it, she said. “We are getting information that the Supreme Court order is not being complied with, which in our view is not just violation of court orders, but more importantly detrimental to the interests of the citizen,” Maliwal said.

The information sought by the DCW concerns a list of licenced retailers, their addresses and stock of acid stored by them as well as action taken to confiscate acid in the past two years. The commission has sought information regarding action taken in case of violation of Supreme Court order, collection of fine from violators and expenditure of the collected amount. The letter written on October 23 by the Chairperson has directed the district magistrates to furnish all the asked details in next 10 days.