Supreme Court On Acid Attack

the Apex Court of Iindia has given state authorities three months to implement new rules to control over-the-counter sales of acids, which have been used to maim, disfigure and even kill people, particularly women, for decades.

 Court has directed India’s 28 states and seven union territories to issue licenses to retailers selling acid after the government earlier this week said it will categorize acid as poison.Court said anyone under the age of 18 will not be able to purchase acids like hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric. Shops will have to keep details like the quantity sold and the addresses of buyers, who will need to present photo identification to purchase acids, the court said Thursday.

“Over the counter sale of acid is completely prohibited unless the seller maintains a log/register recording the sale of acid,” the Supreme Court said. Retailers will have to declare the amount of acid being stocked to the police, the court said. Failure to do so would lead to undeclared stock being confiscated and a fine of up to Rs. 50,000 

The court  heard a plea by a woman named Laxmi who is seeking changes to the law on acid attacks and sales. Laxmi, who only goes by one name, was left badly scarred on her face, arms and chest after she was attacked with acid in 2005 in New Delhi.