Arms licences issued in north-eastern states under Delhi High Court radar

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today sought responses from the Centre and the city government on a PIL alleging that criminals and anti-social elements across the country are possessing as well as using firearms issued on "fake" licences in north-eastern states.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice P S Teji asked the Centre and Delhi government to "seek instructions" on the issues raised in the public interest litigation (PIL) by NGO Paardarshita Public Welfare Foundation.

The NGO has alleged the Union Home Ministry "failed to take action against the mass scale use of illegal firearms in Delhi, where the fake arms licences have been issued from north eastern states like Nagaland, Sikkim and Assam".

The NGO has claimed that the fake arms licences have been issued in the name of residents of the national capital and were "registered in the licensing unit of Delhi Police with deep connivances of corrupt police officers..."

"The weapons purchased on these illegal arms licences were procured from the government factories in India which are putting at risk the lives of the citizens as well as foreign dignitaries coming to India on the Republic Day parade...," the petition has said.

The NGO has sought directions to the government "to immediately implement a mechanism to stop the illegal trade of fake arms licence" as well as put in place security features, including biometric identification, for issuance of arms license in India which would be similar to the current system of issuing passports.

The petition has sought directions to the Centre, the city government and Delhi Police "to seize the illegal arms and ammunitions and take appropriate legal action against the persons who procured the fake arms licences and those involved in the illegal racket of issuing fake arms licences to the residents of Delhi NCR as well as other parts of India."