All You Need To Know About India’s Acid Attack Laws, Ban On Acid Sale
Perhaps it's time to make stricter laws!
Crimes against women are on a rise. As if the Shraddha Walker murder case wasn’t enough, another case of crime against a schoolgirl in Delhi has sent shock waves across the nation. A 17-year-old schoolgirl was attacked with acid by 2 boys on a bike when she was on the way to school. She isn’t the first acid attack victim who was attacked by an entitled man and she won’t be the last. From marriage proposal refusals to breakups to family rivalry, men have used the pettiest reasons to attack women with acid which is proof of entitlement. And by no means am I trying to downplay the acid attacks on men. Be it a man or a woman, the damage done by an acid attack can leave physical as well as deep emotional scars that never really go away. But the real question is, where are these people getting the acid from?
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In the recent Delhi acid attack case, the assailants reportedly procured acid from the e-commerce website Flipkart. But do you know that a 2013 Supreme Court judgement has set down guidelines on how acid can be sold? Yep, unlike before when acid could be sold over the counter, in 2013, a Supreme Court judgement put down directives to regulate the sale of substances like acid that can be harmful. Under these directives, a seller must have a license to sell acid and the shops selling it must keep a record of the sale as well as the purchase of it. As per the Apex Court ruling, the shopkeepers need to also record the reasons for purchase and keep a copy of the buyer’s ID proof as well. On the other hand, the buyer must also have a license to buy acid and must keep a record of their purchase and stock. The licence given to the sellers needs to be renewed every year after verification by the Police. This judgement was passed in a PIL of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal vs Union Of India And Ors. But the cold truth is that despite the ruling, acid is as easily available in the market as anything else.
Also Read: DCW Issues Notice To Delhi Police Over Acid Attack On Schoolgirl: “Acid Is As Easily Available As Vegetables”
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, acid can be bought over-the-counter without furnishing identity proof in several cases and in others, people buy it in black by paying extra. And let’s not forget how people buy it on the pretext of using it to clean toilets and whatnot. What’s even more shocking is that it’s available at the mere cost of Rs 50 to Rs 200.
What Are The Laws Against Acid Attack In India?
According to the 2013 Supreme Court judgement, acid attacks were made a cognizable offence under Section 326 of the India Penal Code. Under Sections 326 A and 326 B, the offender will be punished with imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and may even extend to life imprisonment as well as a fine. The Supreme Court judgement also lays down regulations for compensation to be provided to the victim to help them recover from the acid attack and for rehabilitation.
Also Read: Delhi Acid Attack Case: 8 Key Things To Know About This Horrifying Incident
As per Section 357 c of CrPC, all hospitals, private or public or those run by central or state government or local bodies are obliged to provide medical treatment as well as first aid to the victim of acid attack free of cost. And a minimum of Rs 3 lakhs have to be provided as compensation by the state and union territories to the victim along with government-provided legal services to take appropriate legal action.
What Does Data Say About Acid Attacks In India?
According to NCRB data, cases of acid attacks have spiked since 2013 and from 2014 to 2018 there were roughly 1,438 acid attack victims but 2017 witnessed the highest number of acid attacks with about 319 victims. In 2014, there was the lowest number of acid attack cases reported with 244 cases but only 201 people were charge-sheeted. Between 2014 and 2018 UP, West Bengal, Telangana and Delhi were among the top 10 states with a high number of acid attacks.
