Swati Maliwal calls meet on acid sale regulation

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson has called a meeting of all Districts Magistrates (DMs) here for implementation of the Supreme Court’s order on acid sale regulation and recommendations of the commission in this regard.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal has called a meeting of the DMs on November 3 in the backdrop of unregulated acid sales in the city, which is a major cause for continued acid attack against women.

The DCW in its statement said that unregulated acid sale is a major cause for continued acid attack against women.

“According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2014, Delhi, with 20 incidences of acid attacks figures as the third highest state after West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The DCW is very concerned regarding the prevalence of this heinous crime,” the statement said.

The apex court had on July 18, 2013 passed an order in a case that placed stringent restrictions on the acid sale and mandated the maintenance of acid buyers among others.

In pursuance of the Supreme Court, the DCW had directed all DMs in Delhi to furnish information regarding acid sales in their respective jurisdictions, including details of retailers, action taken to regulate acid sales, action taken in adherence to the apex court order as well as details of fines that were collected upon violations for the past two years.

“Based on the data submitted to the DCW by district magistrates, we have found that steps need to be taken to regulate acid sale in Delhi. In this regard the Commission has made recommendations to the Delhi government regarding the control of acid sales in Delhi. The commission has called a meeting of all DMs in this regard to hold consultations for devising stringent regulation of acid sale in Delhi,” the statement issued by the commission added.