Delhi High Court seeks government's reply on arms licences from outside Delhi

NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court today sought the Centre's and city government's responses on the procedure or law under which the people of national capital can keep arms issued on licence from other states.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the counsels of Centre and Delhi government to "seek instructions" on the issues raised in a PIL filed by NGO Paardarshita Public Welfare Foundation alleging rampant use of "fake" arms licences issued by north-eastern states.

"What is the rule under which residents of Delhi can keep the firearms? Who have the licence of outside Delhi," the court asked, adding that the concerned government agencies should file an affidavit within four weeks.

The court posed the query while hearing the plea alleging that criminals and anti-social elements across the country are possessing as well as using firearms issued on "fake" licences from north-eastern states.

Meanwhile, Delhi government standing counsel Zubeda Begum informed the court that she has instruction from Commissioner of Police Licensing, that there were some fake licences and which were cancelled.

The counsel for the Centre said the Home Ministry is "on the job" (related to fake licence) and have even sent an e-mail to the authorities concerned.

The NGO has alleged the Union Home Ministry had "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".

It has claimed that fake arms licences were issued in the name of residents of the national capital and "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.