40% arms holders fail to get licence renewed
Chandigarh, July 27
Nearly 40 per cent arms licensees have failed to get their licences renewed in the city. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vinay Pratap Singh reviewed the arms licences issued by UT under the Arms Act.
Renew permit 60 days prior to expiry
As per Rule 24 of Arms Rules, 2016, an application for renewal of arms licence has to be made, at least, 60 days prior to its expiry. As per Section 21 (1) of Arms Act, 1959, no licensee can possess any weapon after the expiry of the licence and he or she is mandated to immediately deposit such weapon with the nearest police station or with a licensed arms dealer.
According to the arms branch of the Deputy Commissioner Office, more than 6,100 arms licences have been issued so far under its jurisdiction.
As per Rule 24 of Arms Rules, 2016, an application for renewal of arms licence has to be made, at least, 60 days prior to its expiry. As per Section 21 (1) of Arms Act, 1959, no licensee can possess any weapon after the expiry of the licence and he or she is mandated to immediately deposit such weapon with the nearest police station or with a licensed arms dealer.
The DC said it had been found that around 2,500 licensees had not got their arms licences renewed even after the expiry date.
On the directions of the DC, notices for cancellation of arms licences are being issued to defaulters. They are directed to deposit their licensed weapons with the nearest police station or the licensed arms dealer within 15 days of the notice and also to explain why their arms licences may not be cancelled or revoked for violation of the Arms Act and the Rules.
As many as 700 notices have been issued and more will be issued in next two weeks. Vinay Pratap Singh said there would be zero tolerance to any violation of the Arms Act and the Rules and the defaulting arms licensees would be subjected to suspension, revocation or cancellation of the arms licence and prosecution under the Arms Act.
As per the Arms Act, 1959, in case an arms licensee fails to deposit the arms after the expiry of licence, there is provision of imprisonment of more than two years and up to five years along with fine.
