New Delhi, March 10 -- The Supreme Court on Monday passed orders asking high courts across the country to set strict timelines for early completion of acid attack trials, even as it directed states and Union territories to come up with policies to ensure victims of such crimes are provided preference in government jobs.

The direction came in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an acid attack survivor, whose case has been pending trial since 2009. In December, the top court had requested all high courts to provide information on the pendency of acid attack trials under their jurisdiction.

On Sunday, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi said, "We request high courts to fix a timeline for t...