The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : State mulls legislation against acid attacks

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

State mulls legislation against acid attacks

Special Correspondent

Favours 7 years’ rigorous imprisonment for attackers

Minister for introducing Bill on the lines of the proposed Central Act in coming Assembly session
State for making accused liable for payment of compensation and treatment charges to victims

HYDERABAD: The State government is planning to enact its own legislation on the lines of a draft Bill proposed by the Centre to act tough against acid attacks.

Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy on Thursday instructed senior police officials to send proposals for inclusion in the State legislation within 10 days. She was serious about introduction of the Bill in the coming budget session of the Assembly. She gave the instructions at a meeting with A. Sivanarayana, Additional Director General, and S. Umapathi, Inspector General of Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Chief Legal Advisor of police M. Chalapathi Rao, sources said.

The police officers impressed upon the Minister that the response of the State government to the opinion sought by the Centre on Prevention of Attacks (By Acids) Act, 2008, proposed by the latter could form the basis for the State legislation. Among the recommendations of the State were amendment of Sec., 326 of IPC (punishment for grievous injuries) with introduction of sub-clause ‘A’ to include acid attacks. The crime is punishable with rigorous imprisonment of seven years.

The State also suggested that crime under Sec. 326 be tried by sessions courts instead of metropolitan courts and that a presumption clause be included under the Indian Evidence Act to put the onus of proving not guilty on the accused in acid attacks. The State wanted the accused to be made liable for payment of compensation and treatment charges to victims and speedy trial of cases. It suggested that the students who were culprits be rusticated from the educational institutions.

The draft proposals in the Central Act were prepared by the National Commission for Women and referred to the State Governments for their opinion.

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