Supreme Court asks government to respond to plea to ban retail sale of acid

Image used for representation purposes | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Supreme Court on Monday (August 31, 2026) asked the Union government to respond to a plea seeking a ban on retail sale of acid after concerns were raised over the use of the corrosive substance in crimes against women.

The petitioners, represented by senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal and acid attack survivor activist Shaheen Malik, appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and said that acid is still available in question shops despite the Supreme Court’s 2013 directions regulating its retail sale. As an alternative to a complete ban, the court was urged to direct the Center to come up with a scheme to ensure strict regulation of retail sale of acid in the market.

“We are informed that certain guidelines were laid down in 2013 which have become more or less obsolete and are not being followed… The Union Government will also reply as to why a complete ban on retail sale of acid should not be imposed or alternatively whether such sale should be allowed subject to strict regulatory measures,” the court said in the order.

The bench further directed the Centre, states and union territories to formulate suitable rehabilitation and compensation measures for the acid attack victims within six weeks.

It also requested the Union Government to consider creating a model scheme and providing necessary assistance to the states for its effective implementation.

The bench further asked the states and union territories to provide updates on the number of acid attack cases, charge sheets filed and pending cases.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said on July 14 that the government had made changes in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 to extend the benefits of the law to acid attack victims who suffered internal injuries due to forced ingestion.

Published – 31 Aug 2026 22:52 IST