The Allahabad High Court has expressed worry about the widespread violations of arms licensing norms in Uttar Pradesh. The court noted that district administrations and police authorities across all 75 districts were not following government orders and statutory provisions related to granting and renewing firearm licenses. Justice Vinod Diwakar, in response to a petition, directed the state government to provide detailed information on arms licenses and security cover given to individuals with political or social influence.
The court highlighted that authorities were not adhering to the Arms Act, 1959, and the Arms Rules, 2016 as required. It pointed out that District Magistrates and Police Commissioners in all districts were not complying with government orders. The judge emphasized the need for reasoned decisions on arms license applications within set timelines and strict adherence to police verification and scrutiny requirements.
Over 10 lakh arms licenses have been issued in Uttar Pradesh, with more than 23,000 applications pending. Additionally, there are 1,738 appeals against District Magistrates’ orders awaiting review. The court also noted that over 20,000 families possess multiple licenses, and licenses have been granted to individuals with criminal histories in over 6,000 cases. The High Court stressed the importance of ensuring fairness and equity in the state’s arms licensing policy.
The Allahabad High Court ordered a senior official from the Home Department to provide details on arms licenses, criminal backgrounds, and security arrangements for individuals across different police zones in Uttar Pradesh. The court sought information on the provision of government security, the number and ranks of deployed police personnel, and security categories for specific individuals in various zones. Notable figures from Noida, Meerut, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur zones were among those whose details were requested.
