India, March 10 -- The Supreme Court on Monday asked all the High Courts to fix timelines for trial courts to ensure expeditious conclusion of acid attack cases in the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the status reports filed by several High Courts on pendency and the present status of acid attack cases, and said a more proactive approach was needed. The CJI asked the High Courts to entrust the task of monitoring the trials in acid attack cases to the High Court judges who are the administrative in-charge of the trial courts.

The top court granted the last opportunity to all the states to follow its directions issued from time to time on a PIL filed by Haryana-based Shaheen Ma...