Chandigarh, July 30 - Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Haryana, Dr. Sumita Mishra has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for inspection and regularization of all licensed and unlicensed factories/units engaged in the manufacturing of arms and ammunition. This SOP has been prepared in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court.
Dr. Mishra said that the primary objective of the SOP is to implement the Armed Act, 1959 (amended by the Arms Amendment Act, 2019) and the Arms Rules, 2016 (amended in 2022) in its true spirit and at the ground level. He stressed that the uncontrolled proliferation of unlicensed guns is a serious threat to public safety and law and order and requires strict regulatory process. The objective of this SOP is to ensure that arms are manufactured only by authorized establishments and within the ambit of law. To implement this initiative, the SOP provides for the constitution of a District-level Arms Control Committee in each district. This committee will be headed by the District Magistrate and will include the Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police (Head Office), District Attorney and an expert in the field of ballistics nominated by the District Magistrate. Dr Mishra said that these committees will inspect all existing arms and ammunition manufacturing factories/units, whether licensed or unlicensed, within their jurisdiction within the next two months. Thereafter, regular monthly inspections will be conducted to ensure continuous compliance.
As per the SOP, it has been made mandatory that the inspection of licensed units includes verification of license, serious examination of premises, machinery, raw material, production records and finished goods. Any violation of the conditions of the license, including unauthorized manufacturing of guns or their parts, will be immediately seized and appropriate legal action will be taken. The committees are also expected to assess the security arrangements in these factories/units.
The SOP provides for immediate action against unlicensed factories or units. Dr. Mishra said that strict action will be taken against the persons involved in setting up or operating such facilities. The committees have been directed to recommend classifying these cases under notified offences. In addition, unlicensed manufacturing centres will be identified and dismantled and civil society participation will be encouraged in the government’s efforts to curb the unauthorized manufacture of firearms.
Dr Mishra said that police officers will play a central role in the implementation of the SOP. The Superintendent of Police or DCP of each district will be responsible for setting up a dedicated cell of expert investigators to handle Arms Act cases. Coordination with intelligence agencies will be enhanced to keep an eye on the networks and demands of smugglers. Surveillance will be increased at railway stations, bus stands and highways. Investigating officers will have to ensure timely filing of FIRs with full documentation and proper presentation of seized weapons in lower courts.
Dr. Sumita Mishra has directed the District Attorneys to ensure speedy trial under the Arms Act and to prepare monthly reports on conviction and acquittal to ensure effective prosecution. The senior most Deputy District Attorney in each district will act as the nodal officer to ensure proper scrutiny of charge sheets filed in cases registered under the Arms Act, 1959.
To ensure continuous monitoring, the District Level Arms Control Committees will have to submit detailed reports of their inspections to the State Level Committee. The first comprehensive inspection report will have to be submitted within three months and thereafter monthly reports by the 7th of every month.
Dr. Mishra said that the District Magistrate is authorized to issue any further directions necessary for the effective implementation of the Arms Act, 1959 and the rules made thereunder. He reiterated that the Haryana government is committed to rooting out the manufacturing of illegal weapons and ensuring that public safety and national security are never compromised.