Acid attack leads to call for ban on substance

NEW DELHI: The public outcry over the recent acid attack on two college girls in Andhra Pradesh triggered a call in the Supreme Court for a ban on the free sale of the corrosive substance.

"A ban on free sale of acid and a law to regulate and restrict its sale should be considered," a Bench headed by chief justice KG Balakrishnan was told by advocate Aparna Bhat.
    
The court was hearing a PIL by a Delhi-based minor girl, Laxmi, a victim of acid attack.
 
Bhat, representing Laxmi, said ramification of the free sale of acid could be gauged from the fact that two college girls in Warrangal district of Andhra Pradesh became its victim and the accused were killed in a controversial encounter.
    
While she was making her submission, additional solicitor general Mohan Parasaran said that the issue of banning the sale of acid has to be decided by the state governments.
  
The Bench deferred the hearing saying that the matter will be taken up after all the parties are supplied with the report of the Law Commission on the issue.
    
The petitioner has sought framing of a new law or amendment of the existing criminal laws like IPC, Indian Evidence Act and the CrPC for dealing with the offence.      Laxmi, whose arms, face and other body parts were disfigured and deformed in the acid attack, has also sought a compensation which has not yet been provided.
    
During the last hearing on July 21, the Centre had said that the proposal to ban free sale of acid, which has emerged as a dangerous weapon of attack, has not found favour with
state governments.