In India, close to 250 to 300 acid attacks are reported every year, according to Stop Acid Attacks, a non-profit group. The number could be higher considering most cases in such crime are not reported given the taboo surrounding these issues.
On Monday, the Supreme Court was deciding an appeal filed by the Himachal Pradesh government against a March 2018 judgement of the State high court, which reduced their 10-year jail term by half.
The apex court said that acid attacks are, ¡°uncivilised and heartless crimes¡± and perpetrators do not deserve any clemency.
¡°A crime of this nature does not deserve any kind of clemency. This court cannot be oblivious of the situation that the victim must have suffered an emotional distress, which cannot be compensated either by sentencing the accused or by grant of any compensation,¡± a Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi observed in a judgement.
BCCL
The Bench ordered two men to pay Rs 1.5 lakh each to a 19-year-old girl on whom they threw acid. They have already suffered a five-year imprisonment.
Since 2013, acid attacks are a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Prior to that, no law dealt specifically with acid attacks.
Despite strict laws and several warnings, acid flows freely in Indian markets. It is sold openly and is easily available to offenders and this is the reason why the government is failing to prevent such attacks.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act was revised in 2016 to include acid attack survivors as physically disabled. That provides access to education and employment, with 3 per cent of government jobs reserved for acid attack victims.??
TOI
A five-litre bottle of hydrochloric acid can be bought for as low as Rs 100 in some places.
The 2013 order by Supreme Court also instructed governments to issue acid-sale licences to select retailers. Any outlet authorised to sell the volatile liquid was mandated to ask buyers for address proof and a photo identity card, so they can be traced in case of an untoward incident. Minors were barred from purchasing acid.
Today, hardly any of the regulations are adhered to, risking the lives of many.