Taking action against the rising incidences of acid attacks on hapless girls across the nation, the Supreme Court has today framed rules and guidelines for handling Acid under the Poison Act.
According to the Press Trust of India, the state has to pay Rs1 lakh to an acid attack victim within 15 days. States are instructed to frame internal rules within 3 months to regulate acid sale from retailers. The rules apply to all corrosive substances.
Rules that will soon come under implementation include sale of only diluted acid that poses no risk to humans and responsibility of sellers to demand buyer’s name, address, phone number, ID proof and purpose for buying.
Additionally, only licenced shopkeepers would be allowed to sell acid, which would again be prohibited for those below the age of 18. Shopkeepers would also have to maintain a regular record of the buyers as well as how much quantity they bought.
In AP alone, more than 300 victims were recorded by the police, while many more were stopped at the right time. Acid is still freely available in the State. Currently, 15 states in India have banned free sale of acid, keeping in mind unscrupulous elements who do not think twice about committing a crime.
(AW: Sruthi)
