SUPREME COURT TAKES SUO MOTO COGNIZANCE OF POSSESSION AND USE OF UNLICENSED FIREARMS IN UTTAR PRADESH The Supreme Court of India took suo moto cognizance of the possession and use of unlicensed firearms in Uttar Pradesh. Section 5 of the Arms Act, 1959 clearly prohibits from using, manufacturing, selling, transferring, converting, repairing, or testing any arms or ammunition without having been issued a license. While hearing a bail plea by a 73-year-old man accused of murdering a victim by firing a gun, a Bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna took note of the evil of unlicensed firearms. The Court directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to file an affidavit on the number of cases registered for the possession and use of unlicensed firearms. Additionally, it also sought for the State’s stand on the steps taken to tackle this issue. According to an estimate, India has a total of around 35 lakh gun licences. Thirteen lakh people have licences to carry weapons in Uttar Pradesh, followed by militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir, where 3.7 lakh people possess arms licences, most of which were taken in the name of personal security. With a team of Litigation experts, Reddy & Reddy Law Firm has extensive experience and involvement in commercial disputes, including Insolvency Proceedings. We are regularly involved in representations before NCLT, NCLAT, DRT and other commercial tribunals in India.