The shocking incident wherein students allegedly used pepper spray in a Higher Secondary School in Bicholim has probably brought to the fore the need to control the sale of pepper spray cans.
Pepper spray is a defensive device, used to temporarily stop a threat and allow the user to escape physical harm from their assailant. In India it is legal to use pepper spray for self-defense and does not require any license or documentation.
Manufacturers, however, need a government license. However it is unlawful to use pepper spray for any other reason other than self-defense and could incur criminal and civil penalties if used for other purposes.
It must be said that pepper spray could be misused by anti-social elements to temporarily blind a person and commit theft or any other criminal activity.
The rules of carrying pepper spray in public transport are unclear. However no thought must have been given to students carrying pepper spray cans to school. It is pertinent to note that due to the increasing number of acid attack cases in the country the need for steps to be taken to control this offence was felt.
The Supreme Court issued orders regarding the sale of acids as the first step towards its control. After these orders, the government started working on provisions related to sale regulations.
Given the fact that pepper spray can be misused by anti-social elements for carrying out anti-social activity, some control over its sale seems necessary.
