Delhi HC refuses to hear PIL on government failure to regulate acid sale

Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a PIL alleging failure on the part of the Centre and city government to regularise the sale of acid in the national capital, saying the Supreme Court was monitoring the matter on a regular basis.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said the policy regarding sale of acid, compensation to the attack victims and their rehabilitation were subject matters of the Supreme Court. "So, we are not inclined to entertain the PIL, as the matter is not closed in the Supreme Court. They (apex court) are monitoring the issue regarding acid attacks on regular basis," the bench said, adding "instead of coming here you bring this issue to the notice of the apex court". The PIL, filed by NGO Chhanv Foundation through advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, has alleged that despite Supreme Court directions, the government has failed to regularise the sale of acid, which has led to several acid attacks here.

The petition which said "there is an urgent need to curb the acid attack menace" had sought directions to the Centre and Delhi government to not only regularise the sale of acid but also "to issue a concrete policy for the rehabilitation and relief of the acid attack victims". The PIL submitted that the apex court had issued several directions to the respondents (Centre and city govt) to curb the acid attack menace. "However, despite the said directions the national capital has noticed several acid attacks recently shocking the conscience of public at large," it said.

A slew of directions passed by the apex court in July 2013 include prohibition of over-the-counter sale of acid unless the seller maintains a record containing details of purchasers, no sale of acid to any person below 18 years of age and sellers would have to give it only after the buyer has shown a photo ID, address proof and had specified the reason for procuring acid.