The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Chandra Dhari Singh on January 14, 2020 asked the Uttar Pradesh government about the steps taken to ensure regulation of sale and distribution of acid in the state. In that regard, the government is asked to submit a counter affidavit listing the steps being taken to inspect unlawful sale of acid.

The directions were issued in a PIL filed by Chhanv Foundation, an NGO that provides support to acid attack survivors.

Petitioners had argued that though the UP government had issued order directing all the district magistrates, SSPs and SPs to regulate sale and distribution of acid, but till date no tangible measures to check unlawful sale of acid have been taken. In its 2015 judgment the Supreme Court had issued directions to all states to control sale and circulation of acid and directed all states to consider acid attack victims as person with disability for jobs. 

Author: Parth Thummar