India, Sept. 12 -- Ten years since the Delhi government introduced the Delhi Poisons Possession and Sales Rules, 2015 to regulate the possession and sale of acid, these highly corrosive substances remain shockingly easy to procure across the national capital. A citywide check by HT showed that acid continues to be sold over the counter-without ID checks, without disclosure of purpose, and often without even a label, in clear violation of both state law and a 2013 Supreme Court order.

In 2013, prompted by a spate of gruesome acid attacks, the Supreme Court had imposed a nationwide restriction on the sale of acids like nitric, phosphoric, sulphuric, and hydrochloric. The ruling placed a string of regulations on sellers - vendors are requir...