Maliwal calls DMs’ meet on Nov 3 to regulate acid sale

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal has called a meeting of all Districts Magistrates (DMs) in the Capital for the implementation of a Supreme Court ruling, regulating the sale of acid and the commission’s recommendations in this regard.

Maliwal has called a meeting of the DMs on November 3 in the backdrop of unregulated sale of acid in the city, which is a major cause of attack against women.

The DCW, in a statement, said that unregulated sale of acid is a major cause for unchecked acid attack against women.

“According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2014, Delhi, with 20 incidents of acid attack, ranks third, after West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The DCW is very concerned regarding the prevalence of this heinous crime,” the statement said.

The Apex Court had on July 18, 2013, passed an order in a case that placed stringent restriction on the sale of acid and mandated the maintenance of acid buyers among others.

In pursuance of the Supreme Court, the DCW had directed all DMs in Delhi to furnish information regarding acid sale in their respective jurisdictions, including details of retailers, action taken to regulate acid sale, action taken in adherence to the Apex Court order as well as details of fines that were collected upon violations for the past two years.

“Based on the data submitted to the DCW by district magistrates, we have found that steps need to be taken to regulate acid sale in Delhi. In this regard the Commission has made recommendations to the Delhi Government regarding the control of acid sales in Delhi. The Commission has called a meeting of all DMs in this regard to hold consultations for devising stringent regulation of acid sale in Delhi,” the statement issued by the commission added.