SC takes suo motu cognisance of Ponty Chadha incident

Taking suo motu cognisance of the of Ponty Chadha incident, the Supreme Court today sought explanation from the Centre about the norms for issuing gun licences to private security persons and how agencies engaging them are being regulated.

Issuing notice to the Centre, a bench of justices D K Jain and J S Khehar said that the recent incident in which firearms were allegedly used by private security personnel is a matter of grave concern.

"A recent firing incident, widely reported in the press, resulting in the death of two persons, allegedly on account of use of firearms by some private security personnel is a matter of grave concern. It raises serious issues regarding the role of security agencies, especially the private ones," the bench said without naming the incident.

Controversial liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his estranged brother Hardeep were killed on November 17 in an exchange of gunfire from the two sides when their guards traded gunfire after an argument during a meeting called to resolve their property dispute at a farmhouse in south Delhi.

The apex court directed the Home Ministry to respond on what is the legal regulatory framework under which the private security agencies operate and what are the norms for granting weapon licences to private security personnel.

It asked the Centre to respond on whether there are guidelines governing the use of such firearms/weapons, by private security personnel and if not then whether it is necessary to frame definite parameters.