Question : AMENDMENTS TO THE ARMS ACT

(a) whether the Government has made any assessment/conducted any study regarding the linkages between easy availability of legal/illegal weapons and rise in crime in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) whether there is any proposal to amend the relevant provisions of the Arms Act, 1959 governing verification before arms licences are issued;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the same is likely to be amended;

(e) whether there is any proposal to issue arms licences to the people in terrorist/ naxal affected areas of the country on priority basis; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.227 FOR 10.08.2010.

(a): No, Madam.

(b): Does not arise.

(c): Yes, Madam.

(d): Section 13(2) of the Arms Act, 1959, stipulates that on receipt of an application for grant of an arms licence, the licensing authority shall call for the report of the officer in charge of the nearest police station on that application, and such officer shall send his report within the prescribed time, which the licensing authority shall consider before grant or refusal of licence. However, the proviso to Section 13(2A) of the said Act empowers the licensing authority to grant arms licence without waiting for the police report, if the same is not received within the prescribed time. With a view to ensure that an arms licence is granted after police verification in each and every case, it is proposed to (i) specify a period of 60 days for the purpose of police report required under Section 13(2) and (ii) to delete the proviso to Section 13(2A), so that the licensing authority is obliged to take into account the report of the police authorities before grant of an arms licence, for which a Bill has been proposed to be introduced in Parliament shortly.

(e) & (f): No, Madam. There is no proposal to issue arms licence to people residing in terrorist/ naxal affected areas on priority basis, except in accordance with the extant legal provisions.