New Delhi, July 9
Slamming the Centre and the state governments for their inaction to check easy availability of acids in the market in order to prevent its misuse against women, the Supreme Court said it would ban its sale if the authorities continued to be indifferent to the problem.

“If an affidavit is not filed by next week, the court will pass an appropriate order to ban the retail sale of acids across the country,” a Bench comprising Justices RM Lodha and SJ Mukhopadhaya said.

At the last hearing on February 6, 2013, the SC had asked the Centre to convene a meeting of chief secretaries of all the states and union territories within six weeks for finalising a mechanism to check acid attacks on girls and women by jilted men.

As Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaisingh sought further time for the purpose, the Bench said it was unfortunate that neither the Centre nor the state governments were serious on the grave issue. “Can anyone close his eyes to incidents of acid attacks,” the Bench asked, citing the recent death of a Delhi girl following an acid attack on her in Mumbai.

The Bench was hearing a PIL field in 2006 by Laxmi, an acid attack victim from Delhi, seeking deterrent legal provisions and a compensation mechanism.

A minor at the time of attack, Laxmi’s face and other parts were disfigured in the attack by three youths, one of whom she had refused to marry. The trial is still on and two of the accused are on bail.