Acid attacks: SC wants acid sale regulation

New Delhi  :  The Supreme Court Wednesday directed the union home secretary to convene a meeting of chief secretaries of all states and administrators of union territories to formulate policy for effective regulation of the sale of acid to prevent acid attacks.

The apex court bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha said the meeting will also formulate policy for treatment after care and rehabilitation of acid attack victims.

The court said the meeting will also evolve policy for compensation to the victims of acid attacks including creations of a separate corpus for this purpose.

The court noted a submission by Additional Solicitor General Mohan Prasaran that the government has already amended the Indian Penal Code making acid attack a separate offence.

The court’s direction to the union home secretary came in the course of the hearing of a petition seeking treatment after care and rehabilitation of the acid attack victims by the government and deterrent provision by the punishment of the accused.