MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) For out of turn allotment of Non-prohibited Bore Arms a Committee was set up in the Ministry of Defence in 1996-97. Norms for allotment have evolved over a period of time. The Committee scrutinises all applications (in the prescribed proforma along with copy of valid Arms licence) received from the individuals and makes recommendations for allotment of weapon on out-of-turn basis. As per existing norms, out of turn allotment of Non Prohibited Bore Arms to individuals is considered on the basis of threat perception to the applicants based on the information/evidence furnished. The cases of higher dignitaries e.g. Ministers of Union/States, MPs/Ex MPs, MLAs / Ex MLAs, Sr. Members of Judiciary, Sr. Government Officials/Officers of Armed Forces/Police etc. are considered by the Committee on the basis of assumed threat to their lives. Besides this, out of turn allotment of Rifles is considered by the Committee in respect of Armed Forces/Public Personnel who intend to seek re-employment as Security Guards after retirement. It has also been decided now that an individual who already holds a weapon and requests for allotment of another weapon on out of turn basis would not be entitled for another weapon on out of turn basis. Allotment of weapons is also considered to Central / State Government Organisations, Public Sector Undertakings etc. on out of turn basis.
(b) The Ministry of Defence allots the following types of Non Prohibited Bore Arms/Weapons
on out of turn basis:
0.32 Revolver 0.22 Revolver 0.315 Rifle 0.22 Rifle
(c) The number of out of turn allotments of arms/weapons made to the individuals
during the last three years and the current year (2002) is as follows:
Year Number of allotments
1999 466 2000 667 2001 490 2002 277
Total 1900
(d) The total number of applications received from individuals for out of turn allotment of arms/weapons during the last 3 years and the current year (2002) is as follows:
Year Number of applications received
1999 1001 2000 1411 2001 1656 2002 1001
Total 5069
(e) The total number of cases rejected for allotment of arms/weapons on out of turn basis during the above period is 3046 and the number of cases recommended is 1900. The cases now pending are 123.
(f) There was no convincing evidence of threat to the applicants and in some cases the applicants already possessed a weapon.
