GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Home Affairs

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1461
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2009/Agrahayana 11,
1931 (Saka)
Revamping Procedure for Grant of Arms License

1461.  Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar:
Will the Minister of Home Affairs be pleased to state:

(a)    whether Government is considering in consultation with State Governments, revamping the existing procedure for grant of arms licenses to prevent sale of arms licenses to criminals and terrorists;

(b)    if so, the progress made in the matter so far; and

(c)    the steps Government has taken/proposes to take to standardize this procedure

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(Shri Mullappally Ramachandran)

(a)    to (c) : As per the existing standard procedure for issue of arms licenses, police verification of antecedents of the applicant is a pre-requisite before the grant of arms license is considered. Police verification is done to ensure that arms licenses are not granted to undesirable elements.