Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 20: Apart from Supreme Court directions, Jammu and Kashmir Home department has also been issuing directions time and again on regulation of acid sale, but guidelines have been flouted with impunity and acid is easily available at any grocery store. According to documents in possession of Early Times, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department had issued a circular number Home/240/2012/6105 dated 24/9/2013, in which it was enjoined upon all district magistrates, SDM, Tehsildars to give wide publicity to directions, issued by Supreme Court on regulation of acid sale.
According to Supreme Court directions, over the counter sale of acid is completely prohibited, unless the seller maintains a log/registrar regarding the sale of acid, which will also contain the details of the persons to whom Acid (s) is/are sold and quantity sold. Moreover the log/ register shall contain the addresses of the person, to whom it is sold.
One can easily get acid bottles of one liter from any grocery store, Sham Singh said, adding, "For cleaning the toilet, I had sought one liter bottle of acid from grocery store, who provide it in Rs. 60, without taking my identity card".
Sources said that after notification of draft of Jammu and Kashmir Poison (Possession and Sale) Rules, 2013, vide SRP-491 dated March, 2nd 2013, the Home department vide SRO-49 dated, 3/3/2014 notified the same.
According to rules, the seller should sell acid only after the buyer showed, a photo ID card issued by government with address of person, specifying the reason/purpose for procuring acid ; but same rules have not been adhered to by the sellers in Jammu, as acid is easy available.
Another resident of Satwari, Jugal Sharma said that no one has been adhering to the orders of state Home department besides of Supreme Court, which has issued serious directions for regulating sale of acid. "Supreme court as well as Home department had issued directions, only after spurt in acid attack cases. Few cases are also witnessed in Jammu province but despite that regulations are not being implemented seriously", he said. "If the government officials hold an inspection of all grocery stores, huge amount of acid could be found. Moreover, there will be no record of acid sale by these shopkeepers", an official said, adding that few days, back, once again the Home department had issued a circular for regulating sale of acid/corrosive substances but for no avail. |
