In its order in July 2013, the Supreme Court cracked the whip on unchecked sale of concentrated acid and its easy availability. To see if the chemical substance is still easily accessible and the apex court’s guidelines are followed in earnest, we went about in different markets of Delhi.
While many stores had stopped selling concentrated acid and had only diluted form, no ID proof of the purchaser was sought in keeping with the apex court directions. The store owners were aware of the rampant use of acid by jilted lovers and disgruntled people and put forth a question or two about the purpose of the purchase.
During the visit we asked for concentrated acid and in response, the general stores asked if there was a case of ‘love story gone wrong’.
“Yahan concentrated acid ab nahin milta. Koi ladki ka chakkar hai kya? Kisi ke face pe fekna hai? (Concentrated acid is not sold here now. Is it some affair? Are you intending to throw it on someone’s face?),” asked an owner of a general store in Trilokpuri.
However, the inquiry rests there.
The visit revealed that many general stores had stopped selling acid, which was otherwise stacked as non-branded toilet cleaners, while some sold only diluted forms of acid, which they claimed had no side-effect on humans.
However, no identity proof was sought for the purchase even as the apex court has expressly noted that rule.
On visiting a store in Mayur Vihar, the salesperson handed a 700 ml bottle of ‘Bhola’ diluted acid for Rs.20. The sticker on the bottle read that the contents have no side effects. Similar was the scene in many areas in North-West Delhi and South Delhi too.
Meanwhile, many chemical stores in old Delhi area continue to sell concentrated acids. However, they denied selling it in retail.
While the acid attacks on girls continue, the draft scheme of The Delhi Legal Services Authority proposing enhanced compensation for victims of acid attack continue to be pending before the Delhi Government since early this year.
While the existing scheme provides Rs.2-3 lakh compensation for victims of acid attack, the Delhi Legal Services Authority has proposed a compensation of Rs.3-7 lakh for victims in case of disfigurement of face, Rs.5-7 lakh in case of more than 50 per cent injury and Rs.3-5 lakh for less than 50 per cent injury.
