SC condemns acid attacks on women

Mangalore Today News Network/DHNS

New Delhi, Jul 2, 2012: Spell out steps to curb acid sale, govt told

The Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to spell out steps taken to regulate the sale of acid in the country in order to prevent attacks aimed at disfiguring women.

A bench of Justices R M Lodha and A R Dave told the states and Union territories to file their responses to a notice it issued in this regard on February 11, 2011. Besides, the bench directed the Union Home Ministry to file a comprehensive affidavit, enumerating the steps taken to check unrestricted sale of acid.

Hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, freely available over the counter, are sprayed by men bent on wreaking vengence on women. The victims are disfigured for life and in many cases, lose their lives.

The court was hearing a Public Interest litigation filed in 2006 by Laxmi, who was disfigured following an acid attack. The petitioner sought compensation for all acid attack victims and framing of a new law or an amendment to the already existing criminal laws like the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code, to deal with such offences.

A year ago, a separate bench of the court said the Centre should decide expeditiously on banning the across-the-counter sale of acid to prevent its easy availability to potential attackers against women.

Neighbouring Bangladesh has already banned the use of acid to curb the menace.
The Centre had earlier submitted that a Law Commission report on the issue was forwarded to all stakeholders and the National Commission for Women has placed draft legislation to make acid attack a serious offence.

The Law Commission, in its 226th report submitted in July 2009, said the distribution and sale of acid should be banned, except for commercial and scientific purposes.
Acid should be made a scheduled banned chemical not to be available over the counter. Particulars of the buyers should also be recorded, the report said.

It had further demanded amendment in the penal provision to declare acid attack a punishable offence with imprisonment varying between a minimum of 10 years and life term and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.

Besides, the Commission further proposed that a separate law titled “Criminal Injuries Compensation Act” be enacted to provide both interim and final monetary compensation to victims of rape, sexual assault, acid attacks, that will provide for their medical and other expenses relating to rehabilitation, loss of earnings etc.

During the pendency of this writ petition, the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, was amended in 2009 to include Section 357A which required the states to coordinate with the Centre to launch a scheme to raise funds for compensating the victims of acid attack.