Celebratory firing: PIL in HC over strict norms for arms licence

NEW DELHI: With several lives being lost in in incidents of ‘celebratory firing’, a PIL seeking tougher norms for acquiring of arms licence by individuals on Thursday led the Delhi High Court to seek the response of the Centre.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking its reply by January 16 next year, the next date of hearing.

The plea was moved by NGO, Fights For Human Rights, which alleged that while issuing license for arms under the Arms Act, officials of the licensing authority do not check the antecedents of the applicants, as a result of which licenses are granted even to anti-social elements and terrorists.

The NGO, in its public interest litigation filed through advocate K R Chitra, has said such license owners also include those with criminal background and illegal arms dealers.

The plea also contended that acts of celebratory firing at weddings and other functions was an “obnoxious practice” which “causes terror” among the general public.

“In India, there are many instances of misuse of firearms on occasions like marriages, celebration of success in elections etc. Due to misuse of fire-arm, lot of mishappenings take place resulting in loss of precious life and property,” the PIL said, adding there was urgent need to regulate the use of firearms for purposes for which the licences are issued.

In its plea, the NGO has sought directions to the MHA to “frame stringent policy/rules/guidelines to curb obnoxious practice of celebratory firing.” NEW DELHI: With the banner proudly proclaiming ‘Patake Rohtak wale’, a shopkeeper here seeks to emphasise that crackers at his shop are ‘desi’ and not Chinese, but for the army of skeptic ‘patriots’ rummaging through the products, it is but an “eyewash”.

Business in markets across Delhi, especially the famed ones of the Walled City, have taken a hit as ‘patriotic’ buyers are refusing to purchase firecrackers which they think are of Chinese origin, while sellers argue that they are not.

“Why would I sell Chinese crackers? I am a patriotic person. Not a single cracker in my shop is from China. But how can I make the customers believe that?

“They come, ask questions and leave the shop empty-handed.

This is the worst Diwali for me. I am all with my Prime Minister when he says boycott Chinese product. But I want my Indian customers too to trust us,” says Amit Verma, who has a firecracker shop in Dariba Kalan in Chandni Chowk here.

He says that contrary to profits that would shoot over a lakh in previous years, this year he has barely managed to make a few thousands. Pop-pops or bang snaps, that have always been a favourite as trick noise makers among children, seem to be at the receiving end of a mass boycott this year, owing to their Chinese origin.

“I know Chinese crackers. These shopkeepers can’t fool me. The pop-pops they are selling are manufactured by a Chinese company. I have been buying them for so many years, but not this time,” says a buyer.

He says he would rather not buy crackers at all, than “buying one made by the Chinese.”

Most shopkeepers in the area claim that their stock has not been sourced from across the border but from Sivakasi, the ‘fireworks hub’ of the country.

“What we are selling is an Indian brand. See for yourself, I have in my shop: Coronation, Scorpio, Jumbo. But, what can we do when the customer says it’s Chinese,” says Sanjay, who runs Vasu Fireworks in the area.

Even images of Chinese women on the packets act as deterrent for customers who refuse to believe that the products are Indian. “I never noticed it. But then the customers are. People are refusing to buy boxes with pictures of ‘Chinese’ girls.

“But, the product is from an Indian company. I have always bought my crackers from there. I was compelled to return the whole lot and ask the company for a new one,” says another seller Umesh. However, according to some sellers, there continue to be a demand for Chinese crackers because they are “cheaper” and “attractive”.

“Chinese crackers are more fancy and attractive and are about 30 per cent cheaper than their Indian counterparts,” says Akash Jain, owner of Ramesh Fireworks.