Punjab Assembly Speaker Seeks Arms License Validity Extension to Chandigarh
In a significant move addressing administrative hurdles, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has formally urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to amend the Arms Act. The proposed change aims to include Chandigarh within the arms license jurisdiction for residents of Punjab, a step that could streamline procedures for many.
Current Framework Causes Inconvenience
In a demi-official letter dispatched on Thursday, Speaker Sandhwan highlighted the existing regulatory framework, which mandates Punjab residents to obtain separate endorsements or permissions to carry licensed arms in Chandigarh. This requirement, he argued, leads to unnecessary bureaucratic delays and significant inconvenience for individuals who frequently travel to or reside in the city.
Chandigarh serves as the capital of Punjab and functions as the state's administrative hub, making it a common destination for official and personal matters. Many Punjab residents live in Chandigarh or visit regularly, yet under current norms, their arms licenses are restricted to Punjab state territory only.
Logical and Practical Amendment Requested
Sandhwan emphasized in his correspondence that it would be both logical and practical for Chandigarh to be automatically included in the territorial jurisdiction when arms licenses are issued to Punjab residents. He humbly requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider amending the relevant rules or issuing appropriate directions and guidelines to the concerned authorities to facilitate this change.
"The issue is of utmost importance for us as Chandigarh is our capital. How come we are not allowed to carry our licensed arms to our capital? This also amounts to our staking a claim on Chandigarh," Sandhwan told The Indian Express. He further explained that prominent persons, including politicians and businessmen, often require protection from gangsters and need their arms for self-defense when in Chandigarh, but are currently unable to carry them legally without additional permissions.
Political Context and Institutional Role
Interestingly, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also holds the Home portfolio, yet this issue has been raised by the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha. Sandhwan clarified that there is nothing unusual about this, stating that the office of the Speaker is an institution in itself and is acting in the interest of the state's residents.
This move underscores the ongoing administrative and jurisdictional complexities between Punjab and Chandigarh, despite the latter being the state capital. The request aims to simplify legal processes for arms license holders, ensuring their safety and convenience without compromising regulatory oversight.
If implemented, the amendment could significantly reduce red tape for Punjab residents, aligning the arms license framework with the practical realities of travel and residence patterns in the region. The Union Home Ministry's response to this proposal is awaited, as it could set a precedent for similar jurisdictional adjustments in other states with shared capitals or administrative centers.
