Delhi High Court raps Centre and Delhi Police for failing to curb spate of acid attacks in the national capital

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the "spate of acid attacks" in the city and said police must crackdown on sale of acid.

The observations were made by a Bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and I S Mehta while monitoring steps taken to improve women safety in city following the Nirbhaya case.

The Bench emphasized that there is an urgent need for more police personnel in view of the law and order situation, security threat and crime against women.

The Court's reference to acid attacks came when it pointed out that Delhi Police has almost 15,000 posts vacant which are to be filled by the Centre.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain assured the court that the 15 proposals forwarded by Delhi Police for creation of over 14,000 posts "shall be looked into at the earliest".

The ASG said the proposals for more posts in Delhi Police have been sent to the internal finance department of MHA for concurrence and then shall be forwarded to the ministry of finance.

The Court sought status reports from the Centre and Delhi Police by January 31.

The High Court also pulled up the state government for its failure to set up more laboratories so that investigations can be done faster.

The Court warned the government of coercive measures if the gap is not plugged soon.

Union Government approves measures to strengthen legal and administrative framework to check acid attacks and other heinous crimes

The Union Government has approved a set of measures to strengthen legal and administrative framework to check acid attacks and such other heinous crimes, says a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 

Among other measures, the Government has signaled its intention of bringing suitable amendments in law to fix time frame for disposal of appeals by courts especially in cases of heinous crimes including acid attack to ensure speedy justice.  To help victims of acid attacks, the Government also proposes to develop a new mechanism to ensure that they are treated on cashless basis and the treatment amount is paid from the Central Victim Compensation Fund which is proposed to be set up by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The measures approved by the Union Government  in connec tion with strengthening the legal and administrative framework to check acid attacks and heinous crimes include the following:  

• In order to regulate the sale of acid, a web application having functionalities like registration of stockists and retailers, issue of licenses by the District administration, targeting sale of acid to individuals only after recording personal details like proof of identity and proof of address of the purchaser will be developed. This measure will considerably reduce unauthorized sale of acid in the country.

• The victims of acid attack need to be treated by the hospitals in a hassle free manner. The Ministry of Home Affairs will develop a new mechanism in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Finance and Insurance companies so that the victims of acid attacks are treated on cashless basis and the treatment amount is paid from the Central Victim Compensation Fund which is proposed to be set up by MHA.

• All such cases where maximum punishment of life imprisonment or death sentence is possible will be categorized as ‘Heinous Crimes’. As per Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, trial of offences under Section 376A-D of IPC, are to be completed within 60 days. Extending this provision further, suitable amendments in Cr.P.C will be made for time bound investigation and trial of all cases related to heinous crimes. 

• Government also proposes to bring suitable amendments in law to fix time frame for disposal of appeals by courts especially in cases of heinous crimes including acid attack to ensure speedy justice. 

• Steps will be taken to include acid attack victims in the category of Physically Challenged Persons/persons with disability so that they are able to access the benefits of reservation, training, self-employment loan etc. as admissible to the physically challenged persons. This will help in rehabilitation of acid attack victims.