Total ban of acid sale unviable: Sahai

Despite the Supreme Court’s ban on over the counter sale of acid at retail outlets, S N Sahai, Revenue Secretary of Delhi, outrightly stated that the complete bans on acid sale from retail outlets is not viable.

S N Sahai said as per the court orders regulating the sale of acid in the capital, every Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) have been given a target for raids on retail outlets. “Over 7,000 targets have been raided in last two years,” Sahai said. However, he added that blanket ban is not possible.

In July 2013, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order on regulating the sale of acid at retail outlets across the country. The court directed states and Union Territories to form rules to regulate sale of acids and other corrosive substances within three months, and to make acid attack a non-bailable offence. According to court’s direction, acid cannot be sold to persons below the age of 18 years, and the seller has to declare all the stock available with him to SDM within 15 days from the date of the notification of the rules.

The SC had asked medical and educational institutions to take permission of SDM before making bulk purchases. However, acid bottles are easily available in street shops and anyone can make a purchase without showing an identity card. The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had voiced his concern over increasing incidents of acid attacks on women and had assured that an online monitoring of sale of acid would be done to check such incidents.

Singh said that the system would be first launched in Delhi. He further said that to deal with the increasing incidents of women harassment and rape, a system is being developed wherein a control room and PCR mobile vans can be informed with the push of a button on the mobile phones.