1. Context

A 17-year-old girl was attacked with an acid-like substance in Delhi’s Dwarka by three assailants while she was on her way to school. While the victim has suffered 8% burns and disfigurement of the face and neck area, the accused have been arrested by Delhi police.

2. Data On Acid Attacks

According to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), West Bengal and UP consistently record the highest number of such cases, generally accounting for nearly 50% of all cases in the country year on year.

The charge sheeting rate of acid attacks stood at 83% and the conviction rate at 54% in 2019. In 2020, the figures stood at 86% and 72% respectively. In 2021, the figures were recorded to be 89% and 20% respectively.

3 .Laws On Acid Attacks

Until 2013, acid attacks were not treated as separate crimes. However, following amendments carried out in the IPC, acid attacks were put under a separate section (326A) of the IPC and made punishable with a minimum imprisonment of 10 years which is extendable to life along with a fine.

 The law also has provisions for punishment for denial of treatment to victims or police officers refusing to register an FIR or record any piece of evidence.

Denial of treatment (by both public and private hospitals) can lead to imprisonment of up to one year and dereliction of duty by a police officer is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years.

4 .Regulations on Acid Sale

4.1.Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2013

• In 2013, the Supreme Court took cognizance of acid attacks and passed an order on the regulation of sales of corrosive substances. Based on the order, the MHA issued an advisory to all states on how to regulate acid sales and framed the Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2013 under The Poisons Act, 1919.
• It asked states to frame their own rules based on model rules, as the matter fell under the purview of states. According to the MHA's directions and the model rules, over-the-counter sale of acid was not allowed unless the seller maintains a logbook/register recording the sale of acid.
• This logbook also contained the details of the person to whom acid is sold, the quantity sold, the person's address, and the reason for procuring acid. The sale is also to be made only when the buyer produces a photo ID containing his address issued by the government. The buyer must also prove he/she is above 18.
• Sellers are also required to declare all stocks of acid with the concerned Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) within 15 days and in case of undeclared stock of acid. The SDM can confiscate the stock and suitably impose a fine of up to Rs 50,000 for a breach of any of the directions.
•  The rules ask educational institutions, research laboratories, hospitals, government departments, and the departments of Public Sector Undertakings, which are required to keep and store acid, to maintain a register of usage of acid and file the same with the concerned SDM.
• “A person shall be made accountable for the possession and safe keeping of acid in their premises. The acid shall be stored under the supervision of this person and there shall be compulsory checking of the students/ personnel leaving the laboratories/place of storage where acid is used.
•  In August last year, MHA issued another advisory to all States/ UTs to review and ensure that the retail sale of acids and chemicals is strictly regulated in terms of the Poison Rules so that these are not used in crime.

5 . Compensation To Victims

• Based on Supreme Court directions, the MHA asked states to make sure acid attack victims are paid compensation of at least Rs. 3 lakhs by the concerned State Government/Union Territory as the aftercare and rehabilitation cost.
• Out of this, a sum of Rs 1 lakh is to be paid to the victim within 15 days of the occurrence of such an incident to facilitate immediate medical attention and expenses in this regard. The balance sum of Rs. 2 lakhs is to be paid “as expeditiously as may be possible and positively within two months thereafter”.
• States are supposed to ensure that treatment provided to acid attack victims in any hospital, public or private, is free of cost. The cost incurred on treatment is not to be included in the Rs 1 lakh compensation given to the victim.
•  Acid attack victims need to undergo a series of plastic surgeries; hence, 1-2 beds at the Apex State Tertiary Hospital could be earmarked for the treatment of acid attack victims.
• In addition, private hospitals which have availed the facility of concessional land for setting up the hospital could also be persuaded to earmark 1-2 beds for treatment of underprivileged victims of acid attacks which the State Government can identify for treatment
•  Apart from this, MHA suggested states should also extend social integration programs to the victims for which NGOs could be funded to exclusively look after their rehabilitative requirements

6 . Loopholes In Unabating Crime

According to sources in the police, the regulations on acid sales largely help in tracking the accused and not so much in prevention.

The implementation of the regulations is not very strict. Acid is still easily available in many places.