Must have strict compliance of SC order on sale of acid: NCW

As incidents of acid attack continues to be a menace across the country, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has initiated a move to build pressure on the State Governments for a strict compliance of the ban on unregulated sale of acids in their respective jurisdictions.

The NCW on Thursday asked the State Commissions for Women to take up the issue with their respective State governments so that incidents of acid attack on women can be checked.

The issue came up at a meeting of the office bearers of the State Commissions for Women here. The meeting was convened by the NCW

NCW member Sushma Sahu raised the issue of acid attack and implementation of the Supreme Court's ban of unregulated sale of acid in open market.

“The State Commissions for Women may pursue with the state Government on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on ban of un-regulated sale of acids with a view to prevent horrific crimes against women specifically acid attacks,” the NCW member secretary Satbir Bedi said while summing the outcomes of the meeting.

The NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam reiterated on the need for strengthening the process of “networking” among all women commissions in the country so that they could gain from each others' experiences.

In 2013, the Supreme Court banned over-the-counter sales of acids in market, which could be used by assailants to maim, disfigure and even kill their victims, particularly women. The apex court also asked the States to frame guidelines for a regulated sale of such chemicals.

Four years after the ban, however, acids which can kill some one are still easily available in the open market in most of the States.