NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the states why retail sale of acid should not be banned after an acid attack survivor complained that the SC-prompted 2013 guidelines of the Union government remain on paper even as girls continue to suffer physical disfigurement and lifelong mental trauma from acid attacks.Continuing with its strong stance against those jilted lovers accused of throwing acid on girls leading to severe physical disfigurement, loss of eyesight and lifelong mental trauma, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Centre and states to respond within four weeks on a policy decision to either ban retail sale of acid or impose strict restrictions on it.This direction came after acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik, who runs an NGO to help girls who suffered trauma and scars of acid attacks, told the bench that every day three girls face a similar fate and there should be a complete ban on the retail sale of acid. She cited a case of three girls, two from Okhla in Delhi and one in Haryana, who were blinded by acid attacks. “How many more girls must suffer,” she asked while pushing for a complete ban.Accepting that acid should be supplied for the purpose of research and educational institutions, the bench said banning across-the-counter sale is the first option. In the alternative, it proposed whether retail sale of acid can be restricted only to those who are above 50 years of age after they give in writing the purpose behind such purchases. The data should be collated on a dashboard for ready reference of law-enforcing agencies on acid available in private hands.Senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal told the bench that strict guidelines framed by the SC in the Laxmi case in 2013 said acid continues to be available across the counter. The bench said the 2013 guidelines must have become obsolete now and asked additional solicitor general Archana Pathak Dave to submit fresh guidelines from the Centre on this issue.
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The bench also sought a status report on implementation of its May 9 directions to the states and Centre seeking schemes for rehabilitation of acid attack survivors, which could include preferential government employment and, in the absence of which, a monthly honorarium, lifelong free medical treatment and free education. SC also said it is desirable to include in the school curriculum the preventive measures, post-attack treatment and emergency protocol.
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