New Delhi:
The Centre has asked all states to ban across-the-counter sale of acid following a Supreme Court order to curb rising incidents of attacks on women using the chemical.
The home ministry has asked the states to impose a fine of Rs 50,000 against those selling acid without maintaining a register on personal information about buyers.
In its efforts to strictly implement the court order to prevent acid attacks, the ministry asked all states to frame laws to make this crime a non-bailable offence as early as possible.
The Centre said a compensation of at least Rs 3 lakh should be given to acid attack victims by the concerned state government or union territories as after-care and rehabilitation cost. Out of this, Rs 1 lakh shall be paid to the victim within 15 days of the occurrence of such incident to facilitate immediate medical attention and expenses in this regard.
The balance sum of Rs 2 lakh should be paid as expeditiously as possible and positively within two months thereafter, it said.
The Supreme Court had on July 18 directed that the crime be made a non-bailable offence and enhanced to Rs 3 lakh the compensation amount for the victims.
The advisory from the ministry came in response to the Supreme Court order.
"Ban over-the-counter sale of acid/corrosives unless the seller maintains a logbook/register recording the sale of acid which will contain the details of the person(s) to whom acid(s) is/are sold and the quantity sold. The log/register shall also contain the address of the person to whom it is sold," the advisory said.