The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down upon the Centre for failing to formulate a policy to regulate the sale of acid in the country. The apex court had earlier directed the Centre to frame such a policy in view of the high number of acid attacks, especially on women.
A bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha said that people are dying everyday due to acid attacks but the Centre has failed to frame a policy despite assurance given by it on the last hearing on April 16. “Seriousness is not seen on the part of government in handling the issue,” the bench said, while granting one week’s time as a last opportunity to the Centre to frame policy in consultation with state governments. The court has also directed the Centre to include a policy for treatment, compensation and care and rehabilitation of victims of acid attacks.
“People are dying, but you are not worried about it. Think of people who are losing their lives everyday. Girls are being attacked everyday in different parts of the country,” the bench said. The bench made it clear that if the Centre fails to come out with such a scheme on the next date of hearing, July 16, then it would pass orders.
On April 16, the SC had said it will wait for the Centre and the state governments to explore ways to regulate sale of acids for domestic use before it imposes a ban on the chemical. Earlier, on February 6, the court had directed the Centre to convene in six weeks a meeting of chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories to hold discussion for enacting a law to regulate the sale of acids and a policy for treatment, compensation and care and rehabilitation of victims. The SC said that for evolving such a policy, the secretary, ministry of chemical and fertilisers, and secretaries concerned from the states would be involved. The court was hearing a PIL filed in 2006 by Delhi-based acid attack victim Laxmi, who was then a minor. In her plea, she sought a new law or amendment to the existing laws like IPC, Indian Evidence Act and CrPC for dealing with the offence, besides compensation.