The Union Cabinet decided to make police verification report mandatory for an applicant before an arms licence is issued to him.
The Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided to amend relevant sections of the Arms Act of 1959 that empower the licensing authority to grant an arms license in absence of the police verification report.
The proposed amendments will obviate chances of issuing arms licences to persons whose antecedents are not bonafide, and ensure receipt of police verification report within a period of 60 days.
“The Cabinet also approved the introduction of the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2010 in Parliament,” information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said. Once the amendments get Parliament nod, the licensing authority will be obliged to take into consideration the report of the police authorities before grant of an arms licence in each case, Ms Soni said.
Under the current law, the quantum of prescribed time has not been specifically defined which could lead to licensing authority invoking discretionary powers to grant an arms licence.
“Considering the importance of the police verification report in the grant of arms licences to any person, it has been decided to delete the proviso to Section 13(2A) of the Arms Act 1959 and prescribe a period of 60 days for the police authorities to send their report,” Ms Soni said. When the matter came up for discussion at the Cabinet meet, new and renewable energy minister Faro-oq Abdullah cited prevalence of unlicensed arms in Jammu and Kashmir.