Grab from CCTV footage of an attack on a woman doctor in Delhi on Tuesday
The recent rise in acid attacks prompted the Delhi High Court Wednesday to question the city government's implementation of the Supreme Court order on illegal sale of acids in the capital.
A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice I.S. Mehta expressed strong displeasure at Tuesday's incident in which a woman doctor was targeted by two youth.
"What are you doing about these acid throwing cases? The Supreme Court has given a strict instructions (with strict guidelines) in this matter. How is acid freely available or being sold? Police must crack down on this," the bench asked.
On deploying additional police force, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain assured the court that the Delhi Police has forwarded 15 proposals for creation of over 14,000 posts.
"These proposals will be looked into at the earliest on priority basis," he added.
The court was further informed that Delhi Police had written to the ministry of home affairs (MHA) requesting for creating 4449 posts for separating the investigation work from the law and order duties and police also requested MHA for creation of several separate cadres, for 11,962 posts.
The court noted that there was an "urgent need for more police personnel in view of the law and order situation, security threat and crime against women here."
It further directed the Centre and the Delhi Police to file a status report in this issue by January 31, 2015.