New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday registered a Suo Motu case to restrict the use of unlicensed firearms in the country, after noting that the use of illegal firearms is a “disturbing trend”.
“The use of illegal firearms is a disturbing trend. There is no right to bear arms, under the Indian Constitution, unlike the US,” a bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice KM Joseph said, and registered a Suo Motu case to restrict the use of unlicensed firearms in the country.
It is to be noted that due to the unrestricted use of fire arms many times, unlicensed firearms are used allegedly, resulting in injuries and at times deaths also happen in many parts of India.
“Unlike the US constitution, where right to bear firearms is a Fundamental Right, under the wisdom of our founding fathers, no such right has been conferred on anybody under the Constitution of India”, the Supreme Court observed.
During the course of the hearing, Justice Joseph observed, “I am from Kerala. This is unheard of there. Very few cases”.
The other judge in the bench, Justice BV Nagarathna said, “It’s the feudal mindset”.
Thereby the Supreme Court registered the Suo Motu case to curb possession and use of unlicensed firearms in India.
The Top Court also asked the State of Uttar Pradesh Government to file an affidavit, within four weeks, on the number of cases registered for possession and use of unlicensed firearms under the Arms Act or any other law.
The Apex Court also asked the State of UP to indicate the steps taken by it, to root out “the evil of unlicensed arms”.
