The Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket has directed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Tarn Taran, Punjab, to submit an in depth reply in response to a petition alleging the issuance of hundreds of pretend arms licences within the district over the previous 8-10 years.
The petition, filed by a former worker of the DC workplace Tarn Taran, highlights the alleged nexus between pretend licences and mafias, together with drug cartels. Via his counsels, Anil Pal Singh Shergill and Manoj Verma, the petitioner argued that the problem poses a major risk to Punjab’s and the nation’s safety. Regardless of the formation of a Particular Investigation Crew (SIT), no report has been filed, prompting authorized intervention.
The petitioner referenced a July 22, 2024, order by the DC Tarn Taran, which acknowledged issues raised by the district’s SSP relating to the widespread use of pretend firearm licences. The DC had shaped a committee to research numerous providers availed utilizing these licences, comparable to renewals, permissions for weapon gross sales, bore modifications, and cartridge or jurisdiction extensions. The order instructed the committee to submit an in depth report inside a month, emphasising the gravity of the matter.
The petition additionally pointed to a number of FIRs registered by Punjab Police regarding pretend arms licences and referred to as for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe to make sure impartiality. It additional sought the suspension of all arms licences issued in Tarn Taran pending verification of their authenticity.
Throughout Thursday’s listening to earlier than the division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, CBI counsel Advocate Ravi Gupta referred to a Supreme Court docket judgment on an analogous matter the place a committee was constituted. Nevertheless, the petitioner’s counsel maintained that the current case pertained to a definite subject.
The bench directed a para-wise response to the petition and sought compliance with the DC’s July order forming the investigation committee. The matter has been adjourned to December 17.
