No one will be able to purchase acid without submitting a photo identity card. Also shopkeepers who sell acid will have to obtain a licence to do the same. In a bid to regulate sale of acid in the national Capital, the Delhi Government has directed to maintain records of whom the sell acid to and for what purpose, failing which action can be taken against them.
In other words, next time when you buy acid from any shop, he/she will take your picture or you will have to provide photocopy of the picture and will also tell the purpose of the acid. Accordingly, sellers will have to maintain a register noting the names and addresses of buyers and the reason for acid procurement. They will be prohibited from selling acid to people under the age of 18 years. Retailers will have to declare the amount of acid being stocked to the police, the court said. Failure to do so would lead to undeclared stock being confiscated and a fine of up to 50,000 rupees.
Following the gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a bus in Delhi late last year, India's Parliament approved a Bill strengthening laws on assaults against women. Acid attacks were included in the Bill and made a criminal offense.