HC questions Centre, Delhi Police over fake arms, licences

New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday asked the Centre and Delhi Police to file their responses on a PIL that alleged the government failed to act against the mass scale use of "illegal firearms in Delhi" and fake arms licences issued from northeastern states.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw issued notice to the union home ministry and the Delhi Police commissioner and asked them to file replies on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by March 11.

The bench also asked the governments to apprise it of the rules on whether a resident of one state can hold arm licence of another state.

"Can a resident of Delhi hold arm licence of other state? What are the rules on this," asked the court from counsel appearing for the central government and the Delhi Police commissioner.

The court also asked the petitioner to file additional documents in support of the petition.

Meanwhile, advocate Zubeda Begum representing the police commissioner told the court that Delhi Police have verified from Nagaland Police on the fake licence issue and Nagaland Police have said all licences they issued are genuine.

"The Delhi police had verified from Nagaland Police if there were any fake licences issued by them, they reverted and said there was no fake licences and all are genuine licences," Zubeda Begum told court.

The court was hearing the PIL filed by NGO Paardarshita Public Welfare Foundation through its general secretary Harkrishan Das Nijhawan.

The plea said criminals and anti-social elements across the country are possessing as well as using firearms issued on fake licences in northeastern states.

"...Thousands of criminals and anti-social elements are roaming across the country with these kind of fake and illegal arms licences putting the lives of the citizens in danger as well as those of the foreign dignitaries," counsel said.