SC gives four-months to frame acid sale policy

The Supreme Court Tuesday gave another four-months time to the states and union territories to frame rules for regulating the sale of acid.

An apex court bench headed by Justic R.M.Lodha gave the extension after counsel Aparna Bhat said that except for Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry, no other state or union territory had taken any steps to frame rules to regulate the sale of acid on the lines of the model rules framed by the central government.

The court also sought a response from all state governments and union territories on the Haryana government's scheme of providing free medical treatment and after-care rehabilitation of the acid attack victims.

The court asked the central government to send copies of the scheme to the chief secretaries of all state governments and union territories.

It also said that if any other state was providing free treatment to acid attack victims, then a copy of that policy too should be sent to state governments.

The apex court had July 16, 2013 issued detailed directions to all state governments and union territories to frame rules within three months for regulating the sale of acid.