TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The North Goa District Magistrate has directed retailers to declare the stocks and sales of acids to respective sub divisional magistrates within 15 days.
Failure to comply with the directions, which come in the wake of Supreme Court directives to states and Union territories to regulate acid sales, will invite severe penalty.
“The seller should declare their stocks and sales to the SDMs. Retailers are also required to enter the address and other details of the buyer and the quantum purchased,” North Collector Mihir Vardhan told a press conference Friday.
The register has to be compulsorily produced for inspection on a regular basis, he informed.
The Magisterial branch along with the SDMs and police will thereafter conduct inspections to ensure all retailers have adhered to the directions.
The retailers are also asked not to sell acid to persons below the age of 18 years. “Customers buying any type of acid will have to produce identity cards and explain the reason for the purchase. If acid is used in an attack, the retailer will also be held liable,” he added.
As per the directions of the SC, the sale of acid is completely prohibited over the counters unless the retailers maintain a register recording the sale of acid which should contain the name and address of the customer and quantity sold. In case of undeclared stock of acid, the concerned SDM has been given the authority to confiscate the stock and impose fine up to Rs 50,000. Police action would also follow, Vardhan said.
Educational institutions, research laboratories, hospitals, government departments, public sector understandings and other establishments are also asked to follow these directions.
