Supreme Court asks the Centre to revisit acid sale rules and sends a rehabilitation framework to NALSA

27 October 2026

Hearing Shaheen Malik v. Union of India, a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana said the existing guidelines on the sale of acid have not achieved their purpose, since attacks are still rising, and that this is reason to revisit them. The Court said guidelines alone are not enough and that the accountability of enforcing officers is the key question. It directed the Centre to identify the purposes for which retail sale of acid was originally permitted and to constitute an expert team to examine whether substitutes are now available. A survivor-centric rehabilitation framework filed by an intervening organisation was directed to be sent to the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for examination, with NALSA and the Union government to invite suggestions from all stakeholders, including survivors. The Court noted that although law and order is a State subject, the Union must ensure its guidelines are implemented by the States. It also sought data on whether acid attacks have increased over time. The matter will be heard again in two weeks.