Re-frame norms to review weapons licences: HC
20 Aug 2014 6:10 AM IST
The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to re-frame the guidelines in keeping with a directive of the Election Commission to individually review cases of licence holders of weapons during elections.
Pointing out to an anomaly in the guidelines issued by the home department on 17 August, 2009, a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka observed that it merely mentions the categories of persons such as those released on bail, persons having history of criminal offences and persons involved in rioting especially during elections.
However, these guidelines do not mention that cases of persons falling in such categories are required to be reviewed, said the bench in a speaking order on 13 August.
Thus, the emphasis placed by the ECon the need to review cases of such license holders falling in the aforesaid categories has been lost sight of by the Home Department while issuing such guidelines.
‘The aforesaid categories comprise of such persons who though are issued arms licences could be involved in acts resulting in law and order situation. Hence, directions in that regard have been issued by the EC that cases of such persons are required to be reviewed’ said the bench.
Pointing out to an anomaly in the guidelines issued by the home department on 17 August, 2009, a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka observed that it merely mentions the categories of persons such as those released on bail, persons having history of criminal offences and persons involved in rioting especially during elections.
However, these guidelines do not mention that cases of persons falling in such categories are required to be reviewed, said the bench in a speaking order on 13 August.
Thus, the emphasis placed by the ECon the need to review cases of such license holders falling in the aforesaid categories has been lost sight of by the Home Department while issuing such guidelines.
‘The aforesaid categories comprise of such persons who though are issued arms licences could be involved in acts resulting in law and order situation. Hence, directions in that regard have been issued by the EC that cases of such persons are required to be reviewed’ said the bench.
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