New Delhi:
After the Supreme Court slammed the Centre last week for not acting on regulating the sale of acid in the country, the government in its reply to the top court today said it is considering rules that allow people above 18 years of age to buy acid.
The Centre also said such buyers have to produce a photo identity card verifying their address and phone number. The government said it is also considering a licence system for the retailers selling such chemicals.
Following the submission, the Supreme Court deferred its order until Thursday on a Public Interest Litigation filed by Laxmi in 2006. A minor then, Laxmi was attacked with acid by three men near Tughlaq road in New Delhi as she had refused to marry one of them.
The Supreme Court today said, "Since the frequency of acid attacks has increased, it is necessary to issue interim directions with regard to retail sale of acid. For this the Solicitor General and the petitioner will submit a draft to court."
The Centre today assured the top court that it has formulated model rules to be adopted by the states since the Centre cannot pass laws on its own on the issue.
During a hearing in April, the Centre had assured the Supreme Court that it will work with the state governments to formulate a plan before the next hearing on July 9. However, it failed to do so, which angered the court.
The Supreme Court had then warned that it will intervene and pass orders if the government failed to frame a policy to curb the sale of acid in order to prevent chemical attacks. "Seriousness is not seen on the part of government in handling the issue," the bench headed by Justice RM Lodha had said.
In February this year, the court had directed the Centre to convene within six weeks a meeting of Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories to hold discussion for enacting a law to regulate the sale of acids and a policy for treatment, compensation and care and rehabilitation of acid attack victims.