HC notice on plea for curb on 'celebratory firings'

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the central and Delhi governments and Delhi Police on a PIL seeking directions to frame stringent policy or guidelines to curb "obnoxious practice of celebratory firing".

A division bench of Chief Justice G.Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath sought response by August 17 while hearing a plea filed by the father of a girl who died in April because of celebratory firing that took place during a marriage procession.

The plea of Shyam Sunder Kaushal, filed through advocate Akash Vajpai, said said that the obnoxious practice of celebratory firing is not under check and consequently the numbers of deaths are increasing.

"In Delhi, many cases of celebratory firing have been reported recently," said the plea, adding that there is an urgent need to frame strict guidelines or rules with respect to celebratory firing.

It said "carrying of a gun in a marriage procession is illegal under Arms Act, 1959 and Indian Penal Code 1860 and terms of the license also forbade the taking of the gun to public assemblage", adding that "it is the need of the hour for the government to formulate guidelines in order to ensure that there should not be any further death or injury to anyone because of the celebratory firing".

The petition further sought direction for the home ministry to devolve a robust mechanism to ensure that these licenses are not misused and cancel the license of anyone who does. It also sought direction to the ministry to "impose heavy fine on the person who misused his licensed arms and pay compensation to the every injured person or person who dies because of the celebratory firing".

--IANS

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