Supreme Court flags weak enforcement of retail acid sale ban

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to detail measures against acid misuse. The bench said weak enforcement and poor coordination had undermined the retail acid sale ban.Newdelhi,Oct 27, 2026 19:08 ISTThe Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over acid attacks in the country, saying that merely issuing circulars in sympathetic language to ban acid sales would not address the problem, news agency Press Trust of India reported.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the Centre must ensure that all states implement its guidelines banning the retail sale of acid.“Despite your guidelines banning the retail sale of acid, unfortunate incidents are taking place. That means there is some fault and your guidelines have not been able to achieve the objective. That itself is a good ground for you to revisit the entire issue. You cannot just be happy and satisfied that you have issued the guidelines and the burden is passed on to the states,” the bench observed orally.The court said there were several loopholes being misused and that the Centre and the states would have to coordinate to resolve the issue. “Show us a single circular you have issued to a state seeking an explanation of how, despite your guidelines, incidents have taken place in the state. Where is the accountability of officers of enforcement agencies there? Issuing a circular in very compassionate language and directing all these things is not going to serve the purpose,” the bench said.“We understand there is a federal structure, but you will have to share part of the responsibility and remind the states. If incidents are rising, that means the policy has miserably failed,” it added. Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave, appearing for the Centre, told the court that detailed guidelines banning the retail sale of acid had been circulated to the states, which had framed rules. However, their implementation remained very weak, PTI reported.The Supreme Court directed the Centre to file a sworn statement listing the measures needed to prevent the misuse of acid, which is freely available in the market.The court had earlier flagged an “alarming increase” in “barbaric” acid attacks and suggested that the Centre consider increasing the punishment for such offences. It had also suggested placing the responsibility on the accused to prove that he was not guilty.The order was passed during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik. She has sought the classification of acid attack survivors as persons with disabilities so that they can access welfare schemes.The court asked the Centre to review its approach, ensure coordination with the states and identify measures to strengthen enforcement of the ban on retail acid sales amid continuing attacks.- Ends