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The Union Cabinet today approved the amendment of provisions under Section 13 of the Arms Act, 1959. It approved for specifying a period of sixty days for the purpose of police report required under sub-section (2) of section 13 of the Act and deletion of proviso to sub-section (2A) of section 13 of the Act. The Cabinet also approved the introduction of the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2010. The proposed amendments will obviate chances of issuing arms licences to persons whose antecedents are not bonafide, and ensure receipt of police verification report within a period of sixty days. The licensing authority will be obliged to take into consideration the report of the police authorities before grant of an arms licence in each case, with the deletion of the proviso to Section 13 (2A) of the Arms Act, 1959. Under Section 3 of the Arms Act, 1959, it is essential to obtain an arms possession licence issued by a competent licensing authority by any person for acquisition, possession or carrying any firearms or ammunition. The quantum of prescribed time referred to in Section 13 of the Arms Act, 1959 has not been specifically defined under the said Act.

Arms licence issuance procedure approved