Expressing concern over rising incidents of acid attacks against women, the Allahabad high court on Friday asked the Centre as well as the Uttar Pradesh government to consider "curbing supply or availability of acid in the open market" to put a check on such incidents.
Admitting a PIL filed by Allahabad-based social organisation Chirag Sahyog Sansthan, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Dilip Gupta remarked that the petitioner has "raised an important issue" as to what steps the state government or the Centre can take to prevent easy availability of acid-like materials which are "now being used frequently as weapons for assault, particularly against women".
"Petitioner has made a reference to Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989, framed by the Department of Environment and Forest and said those rules may need modification," the court observed.
Directing the Centre and the state to "think about the issue and suggest measures" for preventing such incidents, the court sought their reply within four weeks.