‘Regulate acid sales to prevent attacks’

Concerned over acid being used as a weapon, particularly against women by their jilted lovers, the Supreme Court, on Wednesday, directed the central government to convene in six weeks a meeting of chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to address the menace and discuss framing of a law for treatment and compensation to victims.

Not satisfied with the steps taken by the central government in to regulate sale of acid and to curb its use for attacking women, a bench headed by Justice RM Lodha directed the Union home secretary to meet all the chief secretaries to formulate a policy to address the menace of the acid attacks.

The court passed the order hearing a PIL filed in 2006 by Delhi-based victim Laxmi who was then a minor. Her arms, face and other body parts were disfigured in an acid attack. Laxmi’s arms, face and other body parts were disfigured in an acid attack. She had faced the acid attack by three men near Tughlaq Road after she had refused to marry one of the persons.

Earlier, the SC had asked from the Centre about its measures to regulate the sale of acid to prevent such attacks. The court had earlier also sought the responses of the central and state governments on whether any suitable plan can be prepared by them to provide adequate relief to the victims for their treatment and rehabilitation.