Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, Feb 3 (GNS): District administration Srinagar on Thursday reiterated Apex Court guidelines aimed to regulate the sale of acids/corrosive substances in the aftermath of huge public outcry over the heinous acid attack incident on a 24-year-old Srinagar girl – leaving her with grievous facial injuries and paralysed eyesight.
“Pursuant to the directions of Supreme Court of India in order dated 18.07.2013 in W.P. (Cr.) No. 129 of 2006, Laxmi Vs Union of India & others, the following rules/ regulations with respect to sale of acid/ corrosive substances are hereby reiterated: i) Over the counter, sale of acid is completely prohibited unless the seller maintains a log/register recording the sale of acid which will contain the details of the person(s) to whom acid(s) is/are sold and the quantity sold. The log/register shall contain the address of the person to whom it is sold. (ii) All sellers shall sell acid only after the buyer has shown: a) A photo ID issued by the Government which also has the address of the person. b) Specifies the reason/purpose for procuring acid. (iii) All stocks of acid must be declared by the seller with the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) within 15 days. (iv) No acid shall be sold to any person who is below 18 years of age. (V) The educational institutions, research laboratories, hospitals, Government Departments and the departments of Public Sector Undertakings, who are required to keep and store acid, shall follow prescribed guidelines”, reads an order as per GNS.
“In view of the recent horrifying acid attack in Srinagar, immediate remedial measures are required to fix the responsibility. Accordingly, a surveillance Task Force to regulate sale of acid/ corrosive substances in district Srinagar is hereby constituted with following composition as well as terms and conditions: 1. Dr. Syed Mohammad Haneef Balki, Additional District Magistrate, Srinagar 2. Arif Shah SP, Headquarter 3. Jatin Kishore IAS, Prob. 4. Shiban Siddarth IPS, Prob. 5. Muzaffar Ahmad Wani Deputy Controller Enforcement Legal Metrology 6. Arshid Qadir Assistant Labour Commissioner 7. Mohammad Aslam Wani SDPO Mahraj Gunj 8. Fayaz Hussain Shah SDPO Shaheed Gunj 9. Mushtaq Ahmad Assistant Director Food, South 10. Mohammad Yousuf Assistant Director Food, North 11. Mohammad Younis Assistant Drug Controller”, the order reads.
The terms and conditions laid for the Committee as per the order are as; 1. The team shall conduct survey regarding unregulated/ unauthorized/ illegal sale of acid/ corrosive substances in light of order dated: 18.07.2013 of Hon’ble Supreme Court in Laxmi Vs Union of India & others case. 2. The team shall furnish a report within 2 weeks along with specific recommendations regarding action to be taken. 3. The team shall be competent to seal premises/ commercial establishments .found indulging in illegal/ unauthorized sale of acid/ corrosive substances and shall ensure that no one is allowed to buy, sell, use, store, distribute, transport acid/ corrosive substances in contravention to rules/ laws governing the same. 4. The team shall ensure that every license-holder shall maintain a register recording all sales of acid/ corrosive substances, other than those used by a chemist and druggist for dispensing or compounding in compliance with the prescription of a medical or veterinary practitioner. The following particulars shall be entered in such register in respect of each sale, namely: a) Serial No. b) Date of sale. c) Name, telephone number and address of the purchaser. d) Name of the acid/ corrosive substance. c) d) Quantity sold. e) Signature of purchaser or thumb impression if illiterate or in case of purchase by post, date of letter or written order and reference to the origins in the file in which is preserved. f) Signature of dealer.
Notably, condemnations have been pouring in from different quarters against the dastard acid attack of the 24-year-old girl, a resident of Eidgah, at Usmani Colony Wantpora earlier this week. (GNS)
